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On February 17, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and former Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland, Marek Belka (pictured), gave a candid and lively lecture on fiscal reform in Poland. Before his lecture, presented jointly by the Department of Economics/Public Policy Program, CEU COO Lajos Bokros provided some context by giving a brief overview of the fiscal situation in some of the neighbouring countries.
Belka’s major theme was that major fiscal reforms in the areas of tax, pensions, deficit and debt that were the hallmark of EU five to ten years ago, have slowed down. When problems have arisen, such as fiscal deficits far exceeding the 3% allowed by the EU Stability Pact, local political leaders have concentrated more on re-election and coalition-building and seem to fear few consequences from either their voters or the EU. On the other hand, more incremental and smaller scale reforms seem to be going ahead full force, such as health care reform and improvements in local government management and financing in Poland. These will continue to serve as practical policy lessons for countries of the region still outside the EU.
The lecture was followed by a provoking question and answer period with the audience, which consisted of students, faculty, and members of the press and diplomatic corps.
Belka came to CEU on the personal invitation of Lajos Bokros.
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