This study analyses certain information presented by the Member States in the National Reform Programmes and Stability and Convergence Programmes submitted to the EU in the framework of the 2013 European Semester.
Based on a methodological framework developed to summarise specific aspects of these programmes in a coherent way, the paper first examines the macro-economic forecasts used by national governments and compares them with the Commission’s spring 2013 forecasts. It then considers whether national governments sought the involvement of national parliaments and social partners in the design of the programmes. Finally, it appraises the progress made with the implementation of the 2012 Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs), as reported in the 2013 national programmes. This appraisal of the state of implementation is based on a detailed classification of the CSRs by policy domain (fiscal policy, labour market, social policy, market policy, environment and financial markets).
The main points made in the study are the following:
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Member State governments and the Commission sometimes have different forecasts of key macro-economic variables. In many instances, Member States’ forecasts for economic growth are more optimistic than the Commission’s.
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The extent of involvement of national parliaments and social partners in the Member States varies significantly.
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In general, progress in the implementation of the CSRs has been substantial. About one third of the detailed recommendations have been implemented, and another third have at least been partially addressed. However, discrepancies can be observed among the Member States: while many have partially or fully implemented nearly all the requested measures, others have implemented less than half of them.
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