Fiscal Policy Making

We facilitate learning on how to use government spending and revenue collection, i.e. various fiscal policy options, to influence an economy. To support our constituency in establishing well-functioning medium-term fiscal frameworks, we offer insights into the innovative mechanisms and tools for budget management that foster fiscal rules, risks mitigation, transparency and responsibility principles for all PFM actors. We also address approaches for effective management and control of all funding sources of public expenditures - domestic (e.g. tax & revenue collection) and external (e.g. donor support), while also challenging them in light of varying debt management strategies.

Topic lead

Tara Poje

Officer, Learning Program

tara.poje(at)cef-see.org

2024 Highlights

Building upon the conclusions from a close and intensive cooperation over the previous years, in 2024 we continue with providing support to the process of Economic Reform Program (ERP) preparation across the Western Balkans and Turkiye, in its new cycle for 2024-2026. In particular we will focus on aligning the ERP preparation process with the strategic planning of structural reforms. We will provide an overview of practices that proved to be useful for prioritization and sequencing of structural reforms. We will also continue strengthening capacities to cost and budget structural reforms outlined in the ERP. In that respect, discussions will be expanded to the prospects and need for utilization of IPA funds in funding structural reforms outlined in ERP.

Related events

How to Make a Good ERP

Online Course: September 25, 2023 – August 31, 2024

Knowledge Sharing within the Network of Regional Experts No.6

Online Meeting: May 30, 2024

Launching the Preparation of ERP 2025–2027

Webinar: July, 2024

Fiscal Space for Structural Reforms

Online Course: September 24 – October 8, 2024

Fostering Learning and Knowledge Exchange on Structural Reforms

Workshop: September 24 – 26, 2024

Programming Structural Reforms for the ERP 2025-2027 (beneficiary-specific workshops)

Workshop: October or November, 2024

Managerial Accountability for Performance Budgeting

Webinar: September 24, 2024IWebinar: October 1, 2024IWorkshop: October 8 – 10, 2024

Knowledge Sharing within the Network of Regional Experts No.7

Online Meeting: December, 2024

Active Pursuit of Labor Market Reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye

Prioritizing labor market reforms remains a critical focus on the reform agenda in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The recent “Managing Labor Market Structural Reforms” workshop presented a valuable opportunity for officials to exchange ideas on labor and education reforms, aligning with the ongoing Reform Agenda and their positions within the Economic Reform Programme (ERP) process. Additionally, this workshop also served as a unique platform for reviewing examples of labor market structural reforms outlined in ERPs, encouraging reflection on potential implementation strategies, and enhancing capacities to tackle labor market challenges.

Learning about Key Performance Indicators for Assessing the Structural Reforms

After weeks of blended learning that started in early November, participants from the Western Balkans and Türkiye wrapped up their learning and knowledge sharing experience with an engaging face-to-face workshop at the CEF headquarters in Ljubljana. Guided by experts Janez Šušteršič and Jelena Rančić, the focus of the event was the introduction of the recently published manual titled “Selecting Key Performance Indicators for Monitoring the Results of Structural Reform Measures in Economic Reform Programmes.”

CEF Team Rounds Up Its Activities in November in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wrapping up a month filled with dynamic initiatives, the CEF team successfully concluded various learning and networking activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout November. This period of intense engagement showcases our commitment to nurturing a culture of continuous learning and capacity development within the economic reform and leadership domains.

Economic Reform Programme Team Plays a Crucial Role in Coordination between Institutions

The Office of Prime Minister in Kosovo plays a crucial role in coordinating various government programs, including the Economic Reform Programme (ERP), which supports the Prime Minister and Cabinet in aligning ministries with government policies. We were happy to talk to Mr. Venhar Nushi, Senior Policy Planning Officer, who oversees the smooth running of the ERP process in Kosovo*.

Empowering the Understanding of the Economic Reform Program Cycle through Self-Paced Online Learning

As part of the “Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2) project, we are happy to announce the start of the self-paced online course for public officials who wish to learn how to create effective and coherent Economic Reform Programmes (ERPs). The ERPs play a crucial role in the European economic governance framework, serving as a bridge to European Union standards and fostering essential policy dialogues.

Exciting Learning Opportunities Are Set to Begin Shortly

With the arrival of autumn, we invite you to embrace this season as an opportunity for fresh starts and the pursuit of learning and sharing knowledge. We will continue offering online and in-classroom learning opportunities across four thematic priorities we have specified for our work: public financial management, central banking, leadership for managing reforms, and learning and knowledge ecosystems.

CEF Director Joins CIPFA's Annual Conference Public Finance Live

CEF Director Jana Repanšek joined the panelists at the CIPFA’s annual conference, Public Finance Live, and discussed how the current political and economic landscape is challenging the governance systems and can limit the effectiveness of capacity development work in the public sector. Here are some extracts from Ms. Repanšek's presentation about the opportunities and challenges South East Europe (SEE) will be facing in the coming years.

Key Takeaways from CEF's Learning Event on Structural Reforms and Importance of Engagement

Ms. Evelina Visoçi from the Albanian State Agency of Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC ) joined us at the learning event where participants received an overview of institution/sector-specific qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods for the design of structural reforms and integration of controls that can facilitate the implementation. We are happy to share some of Ms. Visoçi’s personal learning takeaways from the event that was delivered as part of the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2).

Empowering Public Institutions to Become Learning Organizations

Public institutions operate in a dynamic and ever-changing environment that presents a variety of challenges and opportunities. To succeed in this environment, public institutions must be proactive, innovative, and able to work collaboratively with other organizations and stakeholders. They also need to have a strong sense of purpose and be committed to continuous learning and improvement. In this context during recent training of trainers, we were happy to explore what it takes for a public institution to transform into a learning organization following the CEF’s methodology of becoming a learning organization.

Health Care Reforms as a Priority Area in Economic Reform Programmes

Given that health care reforms continue to pose a significant fiscal challenge in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, it is understandable that incorporating them into the Economic Reform Programmes (ERPs) has become a priority since 2020. Accordingly, we remain committed to providing ongoing support to EU candidates and potential candidates in the strengthening their capacities to plan, sequence, cost, and budget health care structural reforms.

Strengthening Capacity Development in South East Europe: An Interview with IMF Advisors at the CEF

The CEF currently hosts two International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Affairs Department (IMF FAD) technical assistance advisors, covering public financial management (PFM) and revenue administration (RA). We were happy to talk to Yasemin Hurcan and Jim Sørensen. They provide capacity development (CD) support to the six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) under the Revenue Administration and Public Financial Management CD Program in South East Europe with the financial support from the European Commission and the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs. They work with CEF colleagues to create synergies between IMF CD activities and CEF learning events to help address the region's PFM and RA challenges.

Discussing FISR2 Progress and Way Forward with Project's Steering Committee

To ensure learning and knowledge sharing activities within the “Structural Reforms Better Integrated within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2) project are tailored to the specific needs of EU candidates and potential candidates from the Western Balkans and Türkiye, we regularly consult these also with the project’s steering committee. Received feedback is used for the design and delivery of the FISR2 project activities. The steering committee also acts as a platform for strengthening cooperation among its members, Economic Reform Programme (ERP) Coordinators whereby they have an opportunity to share any dilemmas, trends, and ideas for improvement or ERP processes .

Learning Never Stops

We enjoyed talking to Vesna Cvetanova about her experience attending available learning opportunities within the multi-beneficiary capacity development project “Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2) funded by the European Union. Ms. Cvetanova, Head of the Macroeconomic Policy Department at the Ministry of Finance of North Macedonia, has been involved in the Economic Reform Programme (ERP) process in North Macedonia for several years. In this capacity, attending FISR2 learning events has been of particular professional interest to her as through this project we aim to strengthen the integration of structural reforms within fiscal frameworks in the ERPs.

CEF Learning Events Make a Difference

Sedat Shehu, Manager of the IT Infrastructure Division at the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers (MFLT), Kosovo* has been participating in several CEF learning events since 2010. Just this year, he attended four on IT auditing, knowledge sharing and presentation skills, online learning methodologies and tools, and policy drafting and negotiations in line ministries. The last two events were delivered as part of the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2). We talked to Sedat and here we share his impressions and learning takeaways from the CEF learning initiatives.