The Diagnosis Analysis Of Regional Innovation-Approaches
The communitary strategic orientations that the European institutions promoted since Octomber 2006 have at their base the fact that research and innovation have a direct contribution at the prosperity and the welfare of the individual and of the community. The main objective of the research and technological development policy promoted by the European Union is that in the following years this regional group to become the most competitive economy based on knowledge in the world. The studies have shown that the density of the local networks of knowledge and their degree of involvement in the making of a plus of wealth in the region could have a ecisive contribution at the dynamism and the competivity of the enterprises, of the business enviromenent, in general.
Fiscal Transparency in EU Accession Countries Progress and Future Challenges
This paper discusses the findings of fiscal transparency reports on standards and codes (ROSCs) for most EU accession candidate countries. Emphasis is given to the need to establish effective and accountable medium-term budget frameworks to establish policy credibility and anchor adjustment programs to meet EU fiscal goals. Adoption of budgeting and accounting standards consistent with the IMF Government Finance Statistics Manual 2001 framework will also help link budget decisions to EU standards of fiscal reporting. More consistent and comprehensive coverage of off-budget activities is needed for assessing fiscal risk and sustainability. Finally, local government issues need to be addressed by many of these countries since EU fiscal goals are set with reference to general government. Progress in all of these areas can be monitored by keeping fiscal ROSC assessments up to date.
The Baltic countries: Medium-term fiscal issues related to EU and NATO accession
More than ten years after regaining independence, the Baltic countries--Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania--joined the European Union (EU) and NATO in 2004. This paper provides a macroeconomic perspective on the Baltics' remarkable economic success to date, and of the fiscal challenges that the Baltics face in joining the EU and NATO. The authors offer guidance by deriving some principles on the appropriate medium-term fiscal stance for the Baltics based on theory and empirical evidence. They examine the experience of countries that acceded to the EU earlier--Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain--and develop three medium-term analytical frameworks to illustrate the fiscal tensions and trade-offs. Their primary advice supports the Baltic authorities' decision to maintain prudent fiscal policy by balancing their budgets over the economic cycle. Curtailing nonpriority spending may be politically difficult, but the Baltic countries are well placed to meet such challenges, and the benefits--more efficient public spending, enhanced growth prospects, and accelerated real convergence with the EU--make this effort worthwhile.