The Croatian National Bank published a wrap-up of a two-day international conference in Dubrovnik that it co-hosted with the International Monetary Fund on “Growth and Resilience of Central, Eastern and Southeastern European Countries in a Fragmented World”. The event, the fourth jointly organised by the two institutions, convened representatives from international institutions, central banks, governments, academia and business to discuss the implications of global economic and political fragmentation for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE), including macroeconomic policy resilience, the region’s position in the European single market, and structural reform priorities. Key speakers included IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Croatian National Bank Governor Boris Vujcic and European Commission Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. Georgieva framed domestic reforms as central to unlocking the region’s potential and pointed to IMF surveillance and technical assistance as support tools, while Vujcic highlighted the need for CESEE economies to actively define their role as value chains adjust and Europe re-industrialises, including through faster digital transformation, institutional reforms, skills investment, energy diversification, infrastructure modernisation, strategic reserves and robust public institutions. Panels addressed preserving fiscal sustainability and shock resilience amid limited fiscal space and rising climate and security-related financing needs, the mix of monetary and fiscal policies in light of recent inflation shocks, the impact of shifting trade and investment flows and energy costs on the region’s single market positioning, and a new wave of structural reforms spanning regulatory barriers, institutional capacity, infrastructure and services market opening, including alignment with EU-level reform efforts.
Croatian National Bank 2025-05-30
Croatian National Bank and IMF conclude Dubrovnik conference on CESEE growth and resilience in a fragmented world
The Croatian National Bank and the International Monetary Fund co-hosted a conference in Dubrovnik on the growth and resilience of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries amid global fragmentation. Discussions focused on macroeconomic policy resilience, structural reform priorities, and the region's role in the European single market. Speakers emphasized the importance of domestic reforms, digital transformation, and strategic investments to adapt to changing value chains and economic conditions.