The Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) today hosted the annual meeting of the Network of EU Independent Fiscal Institutions in Madrid, with the participation of 25 institutions from different countries. The annual meeting, held at the Reina Sofía Museum, included working sessions throughout the day focused on the challenges for public finances arising from a complex geopolitical context, strong spending pressures and high levels of public debt.
The President of AIReF, Cristina Herrero, opened the meeting and highlighted the value of this network as a platform for knowledge exchange and a collective voice in the economic and fiscal debate. In her opinion, the existence of this Network strengthens fiscal institutions at a European and national level. “In an uncertain and complex environment, IFIs are not only still useful, but more necessary than ever”, she said, recalling that, in the wake of successive crises, these institutions have proven to be technical references, spaces for consensus and generators of confidence.
Cristina Herrero also recalled that AIReF has been actively involved in the Network since its creation in 2015 and has held both the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency. “From the outset, our commitment to this Network has been unwavering. And by hosting this meeting, the second to be held in Madrid, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the Network”, she stated.
Cristina Herrero also recalled that AIReF has been actively involved in the Network since its creation in 2015 and has held both the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency. “From the outset, our commitment to this Network has been unwavering. And by hosting this meeting, the second to be held in Madrid, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the Network”, she stated.
The Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) today hosted the annual meeting of the Network of EU Independent Fiscal Institutions in Madrid, with the participation of 25 institutions from different countries. The annual meeting, held at the Reina Sofía Museum, included working sessions throughout the day focused on the challenges for public finances arising from a complex geopolitical context, strong spending pressures and high levels of public debt.
The President of AIReF, Cristina Herrero, opened the meeting and highlighted the value of this network as a platform for knowledge exchange and a collective voice in the economic and fiscal debate. In her opinion, the existence of this Network strengthens fiscal institutions at a European and national level. “In an uncertain and complex environment, IFIs are not only still useful, but more necessary than ever”, she said, recalling that, in the wake of successive crises, these institutions have proven to be technical references, spaces for consensus and generators of confidence.
Cristina Herrero also recalled that AIReF has been actively involved in the Network since its creation in 2015 and has held both the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency. “From the outset, our commitment to this Network has been unwavering. And by hosting this meeting, the second to be held in Madrid, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the Network”, she stated.
The President of the Network and of the Italian Parliamentary Budget Office, Lilia Cavallari, also offered a few words of welcome before the morning’s working sessions began, which addressed internal IFI issues related to the review of the EU’s economic governance framework, defence expenditure and global trade tensions.
In the afternoon, a conference was held divided into two panels moderated by Álvaro Escribano, professor and member of the AIReF Advisory Board. The first panel featured Lilia Cavallari and Eckhard Janeba, member of the European Fiscal Board and professor at the University of Mannheim, who spoke about the implementation of the new fiscal framework in an environment of high debt and significant spending needs. In the second panel, Miguel Otero, Senior Research Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and professor at the IE Business School, and Julián Conthe, Director-General of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, discussed trade, security and strategy in the current context.
The day ended with a cultural visit to the Reina Sofía Museum and an institutional dinner.
The EU Network of IFIs aims to provide a platform to exchange views, experiences and resources in areas of common interest. It currently has 32 members and an EU Affairs Committee, which strives to adopt positions on issues relating to relations with EU institutions, including the European fiscal framework.
