One sign that the sense of crisis has eased a little in central and eastern Europe (CEE) is that officials are starting to debate what to do post-crisis. Not that the region is anywhere near this blessed state. But those involved in containing the crisis finally have time to look beyond immediate survival. Or they think they do.

The annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the multilateral bank, this weekend was the most interesting for years. Gone was the self-congratulation of previous gatherings. Instead, there was genuine debate on the crisis, and on possible ways out.