The global economy is still too closed by tariff and non-tariff barriers to the goods and services that Europe has to sell. 1/Business and consumer surveysThe economic sentiment indicator (ESI) for the EU weakened by 1.7 points in April, following its decline by 2.4 points in March. In the euro area, the indicator eased by 1 point in April, after a decrease of 1.3 points in March.2/Business Climate Indicator for the euro area
The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area fell in April by 0.19 points to a level of -0.28, following the declines in previous months. While the slide of the indicator had already started in summer 2004, it has become more pronounced 3/Call for Papers. Workshop on budgetary implications of structural reformsThe workshop aims at improving our understanding of the short, medium and long-term budgetary effects of structural reforms. A topical issue in the EU public finance debate is the existence of a possible trade-off between the respect of budgetary targets in the short term and the adoption of reforms that may help to improve budgets on a permanent basis in the medium-to-long run. The reasons why structural reforms may be prevented by budgetary targets and ceilings may be related to the possible presence of direct short-run budgetary costs or to the fact that reforms are costly in political terms, so that higher spending or tax cuts may help to obtain the necessary consensus. The idea of a possible trade-off between the implementation of structural reforms and the pursuit of budgetary objectives was recently reflected in the lines for reform of the Stability and Growth Pact agreed by the European Council, which acknowledge that under certain conditions the budgetary impact of major structural reforms can be taken into account in the implementation of the EU fiscal framework. In future years, the evaluation of budgetary impact of reforms is likely to acquire greater relevance in the implementation of the SGP. Better knowledge of the implication of structural reforms for public finances will be required in EU fiscal surveillance.
Amarendra Bhushan, As one of the leading article writer, and corporate hotel professional. Advisor to various organizations and great sports fan. He is an elected member of south Indian hotel and restaurant federation. Now staying at city of Athens Greece. Amarendra bhushan Dhiraj Athens, Greece PH-0030-6947667507 Abdhraj@mail.gr
