Europe Competitive and Resilient. The Way Ahead for Economic Governance in Europe

Aspen Institute Romania organised its main annual economic conference in Bucharest on October 7-8, 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel.

The international conference titled "Europe competitive and resilient" - the way ahead for economic governance in Europe an East to West perspective initiated a substantive debate on the causes of EU's current predicament and in particular the perceived vulnerabilities of its Eastern members' economies. Looking at best performers as well as laggards it aimed at giving new momentum to the evaluation of competitive advantages and productivity role these countries have across the EU economy.

EU enlargement was to complete Europe as a market and make it the world's largest economy. It was to promote economic and social convergence between its regions ensuring stability and prosperity through cohesion policies. Today, after two difficult years, a global crisis has shaken some of that confidence. The perceived failure of Lisbon agenda and the difficulties in reaching consensus on EU political reform were paralleled in its economic crisis management performance.

The international conference in Bucharest adressed the way European economic governance is perceived today from the highly dynamic but also fusible economies in Europe's Central and Eastern region. The event was a gathering of around 100 reputed experts from public and private sectors as well as high-level officials. More then just searching for lessons learned in the crisis, our discussions would attempt to set a course for a new European compact designed to substantially increase the chances of achieving the ambitious 2020 agenda. Policy proposals made during the conference will be directed to national governments and the EU. Ideally the results of the discussions in Bucharest would also feed into the preparatory work for the new European financial perspective. Finally the conference, will contribute to the actual interpretation of the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty designed to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of European economic governance.