This paper examines the development of fiscal rules and budget procedures in EU countries, and their impact of public finances since the mid-1980s. It presents a new data set on institutional reforms and their impact in Europe. Empirical pattern confirm our prediction that more stringent fiscal...

Fiscal balances have deteriorated quickly in recent years, bringing back to the foreground the question what factors help explain such sharp changes. This paper takes a broad perspective at the issue regarding countries included, the range of explanatory variables tried, and the time-span. The...

This paper documents the modes of organization of the budget process in ten CEEC and examines the relationship between these institutional settings and fiscal performance. Using detailed information on the budget institutions in these countries, the national budget processes are classified...

This is the first EEA publication to address the impacts of natural disasters and technological accidents across Europe. Focusing on major events between 1998 and 2002, the report adds value to existing studies by bringing together available information on their human and economic costs and...

The overall objective of the evaluation was to provide the relevant external co-operation services of the EC and the wider public with an independent assessment of the Commission’s past and current co-operation with the Maldives, and to identify key lessons in order to improve the current and...

This Staff Working Document is the tenth in a series of annual progress reports drafted since 2003 (previ-ously labelled ‘Monterrey report’). Building on previous reports, it assesses where the EU and its Member States stand in relation to their common commitments on financing for...