The European Semester – Country Specific Recommendations address important issues but need better implementation

Summary:

Since 2010, the European Semester provided an annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination within the EU. We found that the Commission provided a sound analysis of Member States annual economic progress in its country reports, coordinated the Europe 2020 strategy which led to six out eight targets being reached by 2020, and proposed relevant country specific recommendations to Council for Member States. However, we also found that full or substantial implementation of CSRs by Member States was low and made a number of recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the European Semester and the Commission’s work to implement the process in line with the regulation by strengthening: the focus on areas where progress is slow (such as poverty and research); the monitoring of CRS implementation; the link between EU funds to CSRs; and written feedback on National Reform Programmes.

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