2020 European Semester: Country-specific recommendations

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 20 May 2020, which provides an overview of the guidelines provided to the Member States on delivering key economic policy objectives and on the adequate response to their economic and social challenges.

Further information:

The Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) were reoriented to prioritise mitigation of the the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and subsequent economic recovery. Therefore, the CSRs focus on two aspects. First, the immediate fiscal, economic, employment and social responses to the crisis, with specific emphasis on health related aspects. Second, the medium-term reform and investment priorities to put the economies back on track to growth, while integrating the green transition and the digital transformation.

The fiscal elements of the CSRs were adapted to take into account the activation of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact.

However, the European Commission also highlights that previous cycles of the European Semester - prior to the onset of the pandemic - also covered reforms deemed essential to address medium and long-term structural challenges, and that those challenges did not go away. Those recommendations remained pertinent and would still be subject to monitoring.

This CSRs were published on 20 May 2020 as part of the 2020 European Semester Spring Package. The recommendations were also based on the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2020. The recommendations and opinions on the member states' economic, employment and fiscal policies were adopted by the Council of the European Union on 20 July 2020, thus concluding the annual European Semester cycle.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Official

European Commission: 2020 European Semester: Country Specific Recommendations (individual country reports) https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/2020-european-semester-country-specific-recommendations-commission-recommendations_en

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/07/2020: European Semester 2020: country-specific recommendations adopted https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/07/20/european-semester-2020-country-specific-recommendations-adopted/

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