conference "progressive reform of economic governance" in Zagreb
Mon 20 Jun 2011
On Saturday 18 June, the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Croatian Political Academy New Society (Novo Društvo) organised a conference in Zagreb: “progressive reform of economic governance”. Over 50 participants from Croatia, countries in South East Europe and the EU contributed to an active discussion on the topic.
After Jan Marinus Wiersma (vice-president of the European Forum) and Dr. Antun Vujić (MP for SDP Croatia and president of Novo Društvo) opened the conference the debate focused on progressive ideas and policies for economic governance reform. 
Prof. Zdravko Petak (University of Zagreb), Prof. Hans Schenk (University of Utrecht) and Prof. Svetlana Cenić (independent researcher and columnist set out the main causes of the crisis and first steps that are needed in order to develop a more sustainable economic governance. One of these steps is a more strict regulation of the financial markets. Prof. Schenk presented a research on the consequences of the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A’s) which fail to create economic value or profitable market power. Moreover, the last wave of M&A’s, 6,750 billion US dollars (5 times the GDP of United Kingdom) has been spent in this speculative market without return.
During the second part of the conference representatives of social democratic and socialist 
political parties and economic experts from the region presented the main economic challenges and reforms in their countries. It was argued that there is little space for progressive reform as the strict rules of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU are mostly based on classic neo-liberal economic values. It was concluded, among others, that many countries in the region face similar economic challenges ― often made more complicated due to the political context― which require cooperation and regional solutions.
A full report on the conference will be published on short notice on our website.
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