The Economic governance challenge in the EU: striking the right balance between discipline, accountability, growth and solidarity

21st March

Bibliotheque Solvay, Leopold Park, Brussels (enter the Parc Léopold from the Rue Belliard entrance, nr 137)

18.15-20.00h, followed by a cocktail reception

The economic and financial crisis has revealed a series of weaknesses in economic governance throughout the EU. It has also highlighted that special attention should be paid to macroeconomic imbalances and divergences in competitiveness between EU countries.

The EU institutions and its member states have therefore taken a series of important decisions, including reaching an intergovernmental agreement on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union signed by twenty five Member States. These measures, aiming to strengthen fiscal, economic and budgetary coordination for the EU as a whole and for the euro area in particular, are designed to put an end to the spiral of unsustainable public finances and to the loss of competitiveness.

Discipline and political will from all member states and EU institutions are necessary to implement and comply with the new rules on economic governance. But it is not enough to focus on “austerity” measures alone. We should in parallel broaden the perspective towards the issues that are of greatest concern to EU citizens and work towards robust plans for sustainable growth and jobs’ restoration and creation. Maintaining the principle of solidarity will also be of paramount importance.

ACCA is therefore delighted to invite you to a high level event, during which distinguished experts will discuss how to strike the right balance between discipline, accountability, growth and solidarity to meet the economic governance challenges ahead of us.

For further information and registration please contact Cecile.bonino@accaglobal.com

RSVP by 14 March 2012

Draft agenda

18.15 Registration

18.30 Welcome speech by Dean Westcott, ACCA president

18.40 Roundtable: Striking the right balance between discipline, accountability, growth and solidarity:

-Transparency and fiscal consolidation, Rolf Alter, Director - Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate, OECD

- Achieving sustainable austerity, Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Economist, EPC

- The enhanced role of Eurostat towards better economic governance, Alexandre Makaronidis , head of the unit GFS quality management and government accounting, DG EUROSTAT

- Improving budget orthodoxy and sustainability of public finances, Philippe Peuch-Lestrade, Ernst&Young Partner

- Towards more growth and solidarity, views from the European Parliament , Elisa Ferreira MEP

19.20 Debate with the audience

20.00 Cocktail reception