This paper focuses on adjustments in fiscal policy in five CEC’s whose accession seems to be politically most feasible, and who have expressed the strongest desire to join the Union. They include: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia. Fiscal consolidation in these...

This paper is focused on the development of a proper macroeconomic strategy in the process of Poland's accession to the European Monetary Union. It is argued that due to legal and political considerations Poland may not opt out from EMU participation. The country will however command net gains...

This paper discusses problems connected with the accession of Central European Countries (CECs) to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A lot of attention is given to the analysis of the agricultural situation and prospects in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Also the evolution and the...

The overall financial framework of the EU for the years 2000-2006 provides for specific transfers in favour of the applicant countries during future eastern enlargement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the budgetary implications for the applicants joining the Union. Generally, the...

The paper deals with the choice of the nominal euro conversion rates for the acceding countries upon their accession to EMU. The paper reviews theoretical models of equilibrium exchange rates as well as discusses their interpretation and the ensuing policy recommendations. Problems with...

This paper attempts to assess the degree to which CEE candidate countries fulfill Optimal Currency Area criteria set out in the literature. The literature review provided focuses on the seminal contributions of Mundell (1961) and McKinnon (1963) and later evolution of the theory as well as...

This paper attempts to evaluate wage rigidity related to risks of increased size and volatility of unemployment after the candidate countries enter the EMU. Such evaluation is done through the study of past labour market adjustment mechanisms and, in particular, the role played by the exchange...

Current developments in the design and management of fiscal rules in the European Union may have negative implications for New Member States. Loosening of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and a growing degree of arbitrariness in its implementation reduce incentives for fiscal adjustment in...

Moldova unilaterally declares its EU membership aspirations and started the process of economic, legal and institutional approximation targeted at establishing free market economy, stable democratic institutions and sound legal system. In the paper the authors made an attempt to assess the...

Since May 1, 2004 the European Union's new member states (NMS) have been subject to the same fiscal rules established in the Treaty on the European Union and Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) as the old member states (OMS). The NMS entered the EU running structural fiscal deficits. More than half...