Bancherul - BANCI / Stirea Zilei / Ar trebui sa fie mai transparenta Banca Nationala a Romaniei?

Guvenatorul BNR, Mugur Isarescu, a fost intrebat, in cadrul uneia dintre ultimele sale conferinte de presa, de ce nu se publica minuta (rezumatul) discutiilor din cadrul reuniunii comitetului de politica monetara in care se decide dobanda de referinta a BNR si alte masuri luate de banca centrala.

Isarescu a raspuns ca se opune acestei practici, preferata de alte banci centrale din regiune, precum Polonia, Ungaria sau Cehia, dar si de banca centrala a Statelor Unite, Federal Reserve (Fed).

Motivul: "Nu vreau ca discutiile din cadrul BNR sa ajunga subiect de cancan in ziare", a spus guvernatorul BNR.

Mugur Isarescu a dezvaluit insa ca vice-guvernatorul Cristian Popa este de alta parere, adica este de acord cu publicarea minutei.

Dar oare nu cumva drepturile cetatenilor la o informare cat mai transparenta din partea unei institutii care le afecteaza, in bine sau rau, viata, sunt astfel incalcate?

Cel putin aceasta este opinia fostului presedinte al Fed, Alen Greenspan, care spunea (intr-un discurs celebru, in care a folosit pentru prima si ultima oara cunoscuta fraza "irrational exuberance") ca succesul Fed depinde de increderea publicului in institutie, luand decizia de a extinde cuprinsul minutei ce prezinta deciziile comitetului de politica monetara a Fed.

In sprijinul secretomaniei sedintelor de la BNR, Isarescu invoca practica Bancii Centrale Europene, care de asemenea nu publica minuta sedintelor comitetului de conducere.

Iata ce spunea Greenspan (vezi mai jos si declaratia originala), in urma cu 12 ani:

"Pentru ca Fed poate afecta semnificativ vietile tuturor americanilor, nu este deloc o surpriza ca activitatea noastra este urmarita constant, cu mare atentie.

Independenta politicii noastre monetare este conditionata de realizarea unor politici larg acceptate de popoprul american si de reprezentantii acestuia in Congres.

Insa exista perceptia ca Federal Reserve este o organizatie secreta, ce opereaza in spatele usilor inchise, nu intotdeauna in interesul natiunii, ceea ce este regretabil si incercam sa inlaturam aceasta opinie gresita.

Daca vrem sa mentinem increderea poporului american, este important...ca Fed sa fie la fel de transparenta ca orice agentie guvernamentala.

Este inacceptabil intr-o societate democratica ca un grup de oameni nealesi prin vot, cu importante responsabilitati, sa nu se afle sub supravegherea totala a publicului."

Greenspan a precizat ca exista anumite decizii ale Fed ce nu pot fi date imediat publicitatii, pentru ca ar afecta pietele financiare.

"Totusi, incercam sa extindem fluxul de informatii catre public, fara a ne compromite activitatea. Recent am luat decizia de a comunica imediat toate deciziile Fed si am extins minuta comitetului de politica monetara a Fed", a mai spus Greenspan.

Fragmente dintr-o declaratie din 1996 a lui Alen Greenspan:

Because the Fed is perceived as being capable of significantly affecting the lives of all Americans, that we should be subject to constant scrutiny should not come as any surprise. Indeed, speaking as a citizen, and not Fed Chairman, I would be concerned were it otherwise. Our monetary policy independence is conditional on pursuing policies that are broadly acceptable to the American people and their representatives in the Congress.

Augmenting concerns about the Federal Reserve is the perception that we are a secretive organization, operating behind closed doors, not always in the interests of the nation as a whole. This is regrettable, and we continuously strive to alter this misperception.

If we are to maintain the confidence of the American people, it is vitally important that, excepting the certain areas where the premature release of information could frustrate our legislated mission, the Fed must be as transparent as any agency of government. It cannot be acceptable in a democratic society that a group of unelected individuals are vested with important responsibilities, without being open to full public scrutiny and accountability.

To be sure, if we are to carry out effectively the monetary policy mission the Congress has delegated to us, there are certain Federal Reserve deliberations that have to remain confidential for a period of time. To open up our debates on monetary policy fully to immediate disclosure would unsettle financial markets and constrain our discussions in a manner that would undercut our ability to function. Nonetheless, we continue to look for ways to expand the flow of information to the public without compromising our deliberations and purposes. We have recently commenced to announce all policy actions immediately (federal funds rate changes as well as discount rate changes) and have expanded the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee.