Earlier this year, Member States and the Commission agreed on 10 key priorities to face the current crisis while paving the way for a more sustainable economy. As situations vary from one country to another, the Commission is today recommending targeted measures for each Member State. This should help each country to focus on strategic levers in the next 12 to 18 months, and thus boost EU economy as a whole.

"The EU economy is at a critical juncture. The recovery is gaining ground, but it is very uneven across the continent – and many uncertainties remain,” said President José Manuel Barroso. “Member States agreed in March an important set of commitments for the next 12 to 18 months. They must now make sure that they all implement these in a tailored way at national level. With today's country-specific recommendations, which are targeted and measurable, the Commission gives Member States its assessment of their national plans. We know that achieving the goals we have collectively set ourselves means sometimes hard choices. But these efforts, if made seriously and by all, will allow Europe to leave the crisis behind it and safeguard our future prosperity."

These sets of recommendations are part of the European Semester, whereby – for the first time this year – Member States and the Commission have been coordinating their economic and budgetary policies. Once priorities agreed at EU level, Member States presented their nationals programmes which the Commission has now fully assessed through these tailored, targeted and measurable recommendations.

Overall, Member States have sought to reflect the agreed EU priorities in their programmes and their macroeconomic assumptions are broadly realistic. However, national programmes often lack ambition and specificity. Many Member States need to be more ambitious on fiscal consolidation, while maintaining growth-enhancing measures (research and innovation, business environment, competition in the services sector). On labour markets, more efforts are needed to increase labour-force participation, combat structural unemployment, reduce youth unemployment and early school-leaving, and ensure wages reflect productivity.

Press release

MEMO