The BEF

The Brussels Economic Forum (BEF) is the flagship annual economic event of the European Commission.

The BEF brings together top European and international policymakers and opinion leaders as well as civil society and business leaders. It is the place to take stock of economic developments, identify key challenges and debate policy priorities.

The Brussels Economic Forum attracts a thousand participants every year, including media representatives, and it provides a major networking opportunity.

BEF 2016 looked at:

The 16th Brussels Economic Forum focused on how a revamped EMU and next generation structural reforms, supported by the Investment plan for Europe could serve to boost jobs and growth in the EU.

Following introductory remarks by the European Commission’s Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, Marco Buti, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi gave the 5th Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa Lecture. In his speech, Draghi emphasised the importance of policy alignment to fulfil the EU's economic potential. Monetary policy does not exist in a vacuum, he said, describing the situation of central banks as independence in interdependence. While each euro area country has its own challenges, raising economic potential is above all about structural reforms, and ultimately comes down to two factors: employment and productivity.

Relating to keynote speeches given by Vice-Presidents Dombrovskis and Katainen, Commissioner Moscovici and EIB President Hoyer, four panels explored the Forum's topical issues in detail and also discussed lessons learnt from economic adjustment programmes.

An inspiring and stimulating day, which attracted 900 attendees.