Economic Governance

How to build industrial policies that harness public financial support to boost key economic areas, while maintaining a level playing field and avoiding market distortions? Competition and state aid officials from Europe and Central Asia exchanged experience on how to design effective industrial policy using state aid as a tool to foster competitiveness and stability, while avoiding negative impacts.

National development banks (NDBs) have an impressive calling card: they can drive inclusive economic growth, support innovation and infrastructure essential to sustainable development, and catalyze transformative solutions for addressing market failures. But fully realizing their potential requires strong governance, clear mandates – and more.

A quarter of the world’s largest companies are state-owned. Often, SOEs have a hefty carbon footprint, accounting for 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 45 percent of emissions in non-European Union countries in ECA. How can SOEs’ role in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience be strengthened?

Strengthening competition oversight is crucial for productivity and economic growth in the Western Balkans. Yet, gaps in enforcement and cooperation still limit progress. A new network of competition authorities in the Western Balkans aims to shift that dynamic, building on the successful experience of the European Competition Network.