The main goal of the Regional Policy Dialogue was to promote the policy debate in the SEE region by analyzing the capacities that the economies and businesses of Western Balkans and Turkey need to reposition themselves on the global economic map, turning the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic into an opportunity for green, smart and fair economic growth. 

Discussions commenced looking at the trends that are taking place both in the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey and how they are being aligned. The purpose was to show that the challenges of the economy are similar in the current moment and that both sides need to deploy new thinking on the economic growth, for the benefit of all citizens. 

In continuance, coordinators of the Economic Reform Programmes (ERP) from the Western Balkans and Turkey reflected on how structural reforms can be designed to bring new thinking on board and support green, smart and fair economic growth. They also explored the question of how a regional thinking within the ERP process can lead to more complex and game-changing ideas.

The Regional Policy Dialogue marked its value to the policy makers and experts who are involved in drafting the growth agenda of the economies in SEE.  Present ministers, governors, policy makers and guests agreed the event was a timely and effective contribution to the policy debate on the future regional growth performance strategies. 

The Regional Policy Dialogue was delivered as part of the EU funded multi-country project “Strengthening Line Ministries’ Capacities to Assess Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms” implemented by the CEF.