Recovery at risk? Central and Eastern Europe remains vulnerable to external funding threats

Growth in most Central, Eastern and Southeastern European (CESEE) countries is recovering, but the region is facing an unusual constellation of external risks—potential escalation of geopolitical risks, possibility of protracted weak growth in the euro area, and further bouts of financial volatility along the path towards monetary policy normalization in advanced economies. At this event representatives from the IMF will present their report: Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe: External Funding Patterns and Risks. This report addresses three questions: (1) What countries/sectors are most reliant on external funding, especially less stable forms of funding or relatively few sources of funding? (2) What makes countries more vulnerable to external financial shocks? (3) How would tighter external financial conditions affect growth and debt dynamics in CESEE countries? The report also outlines related policy implications.

Speakers

• James Roaf, Senior Regional Representative for Central and Eastern Europe, IMF
• Discussant: Zsolt Darvas, Senior Fellow, Bruegel
• Chair: Guntram Wolff, Director, Bruegel

Event materials

• Event summary Download
• Presentation by James Roaf Download
• Report: “Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe—Regional Economic Issues"
• Blog post by Reza Moghadam, Aasim M. Husain, and Anna Ilyina
• Press release

Practical details

• Venue: Bruegel, Rue de la Charité 33, 1210 Brussels
• Time: Monday 5 May, 2014, 12:45-14:30
• Contact: Matilda Sevón, Events Manager - matilda.sevon[at]bruegel.org