The Road to Europe – Program of Accounting Reform and Institutional Strengthening (REPARIS)
June 30, 2004

John Hegarty, World Bank, and Reinhard Priebe, European Commission, address the Conference

On June 30, 2004, the World Bank gathered Ministers of Finance of South Central and South East Europe in Brussels to discuss The Road to Europe – Program of Accounting Reform and Institutional Strengthening (REPARIS). The proposed regional program is aimed at creating a transparent policy environment and effective institutional framework for corporate reporting within participating countries/entities of South Central and South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro). The conference was organized in close cooperation with the European Commission, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the private sector, and multilateral and bilateral partners.

The REPARIS conference had two objectives. First, to share with participating countries/entities the requirements for developing a sound corporate financial reporting infrastructure, which is essential not only for generating private sector growth, but also a requirement for joining the European Union. Second, to discuss the World Bank's proposed regional program of technical assistance. The proposal was very well received, and two participating countries – Romania and Bulgaria – took the lead in offering to host follow-up sessions. The Romania session will be held in early December 2004, and the Bulgaria session in May 2005.

The REPARIS project has been acknowledged as a fine example of collaboration and coordination between the World Bank, the European Commission and other development partners.

Background Documentation

Agenda of the meeting (pdf, 103 KB)

Presentations

The Road to Europe - Program of Accounting Reform and Institutional Strengthening, Alain Colliou, Director, Operations Policy and Services, Europe and Central Asia Region, World Bank (MS PowerPoint, 134 KB)

Presentation by Orsalia Kalantzopoulos, Country Director and Regional Coordinator for Southeast Europe, World Bank (MS PowerPoint, 117 KB)

Overview of the Weaknesses in the Statutory and Institutional Framework for Corporate Financial Reporting and Consequences - Mr. Frédéric Gielen, Senior Financial Management Specialist, World Bank (MS PowerPoint, 273 KB)

Presentation on Proposed Regional Initiative to Strengthen Auditing & Accounting in South East Europe, John Hegarty, Manager, Financial Management, World Bank (MS PowerPoint, 135 KB)

Presentation by David Devlin, European Federation of Accountants, (MS PowerPoint, 85 KB)

Implementing the Acquis Communautaire - Recent Experience in Estonia, Ago Vilu, Chairman of the Estonian Accounting Standards Board (MS PowerPoint, 564 KB)

Presentation by Deputy Minister of Finance, fYR Macedonia, Dimko Kokaroski, Ph.D (MS PowerPoint, 71 KB)