Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Allow me to begin by thanking Cercle d'Economia and, in particular, professors Xavier Vives and Núria Mas, for their invitation to participate in this session. I also appreciate the fact that Cercle has placed the analysis of the post-pandemic productive model centre-stage in this event.
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis we have focused on tackling the enormous short-term challenges this unique situation has posed. It has warranted unprecedented measures in various economic policy areas (monetary, financial, fiscal-), both domestically and internationally, and of course at the European level.
With the horizon set by vaccine availability, and taking into account the fact that the economic effects of the vaccine roll-out will not be immediately discernible (meaning exceptional measures will have to remain in place for some time), it is important in parallel to address the medium-term challenges for our economy.
