Regulatory Governance Initiative in South East Europe
Seminar on Foundations for Investment: Progress and Challenges in Regulatory Reform
An International Seminar Co-hosted by the Office of High Representative and the OECD
2-3 October, 2001, Thessaloniki, Greece
Part of the Investment Compact Initiative on Regulatory Reform for South East Europe in the framework of the Investment Compact of the Stability Pact
Already, most SEE countries are embarking on ambitious privatisation programs to introduce competition and market openness in particular in the utilities sectors (including energy and the telecommunication sectors). The Thessaloniki Seminar therefore offered an opportunity to:
- Update participants on major developments in regulatory reform,
- Share information on effective strategies for creating a stable regulatory environment for investment,
- Discuss experiences of governments in OECD and SEE countries, and
- Identify medium-term challenges for regulatory reform in SEE.
Through their feedback at the Seminar, the participants nominated the following tools and strategies as being the most useful to follow up seminars in the future:
- The elements and implementation of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA),
- Building institutions to implement an efficient, accountable and transparent regulatory policy,
- Improved consultation techniques to facilitate the dialogue between governments and citizens,
- The elements of good quality regulation, which are characterised by being clear and simple, outcome oriented, applied equally to all market participants, do not inhibit access and entry, and are transparent and accessible,
- Reforming the regulatory framework of key economic sectors, to establish independent, effective and transparent regulators, to facilitate privatisation and competition, to serve the public interest and to provide confidence to investors and consumers, and
- Reducing regulatory barriers and red-tape burdens in order to encourage investment.
The two upcoming Regional Governance Initiatives respond to these requests.
Download the proceedings from the Seminar.
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