About: European semester
Life after COVID: EU re-thinks budget rules for new era
So often the source of rows between its members, the European Union starts reviewing its rules for national budgets to fit a post-pandemic reality of higher public debt and the huge costs of transitioning to a zero-emissions economy.
Tweets of the Week: European Semester, Sound Canon, ECJ Hungary case
Commission unveils the European Semester, the EU is not the sound canon tester and Viktor Orban finds that he’s the court jester.
Commission green-lights extra spending to avoid double-dip recession
The European Commission has given its blessing to the draft budgetary plans submitted by the 19 eurozone countries, containing the extra spending to combat the risk of a new recession, but warned about the growing imbalances in many EU economies.
For a European Semester that addresses inequalities
The European Semester will play a key role in the implementation of the National Recovery Plans, to be submitted by mid-October. The reform of the Semester process was already in the pipeline but it is now essential to raise expectations and transform this coordination tool into a useful instrument able to grasp the changes affecting vital aspects of our daily life: health, education and work, writes Maria João Rodrigues and others.
EU to face difficulties without a deal on recovery plan, Budget Commissioner warns
If EU leaders fail to reach an agreement on a pandemic recovery package next week, “we will enter into difficulties,” the EU Commissioner for Budget, Johannes Hahn, warned during an event in Brussels on Tuesday (7 July).
In-work-poverty increasing in spite of economic growth, study reveals
Social inequalities, including in-work-poverty, have increased in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, according to the findings of a study released by SOLIDAR, published on Wednesday (13 November).
Finnish social minister: Europe needs ‘a paradigm shift’ towards the economy of well-being
Working towards a more inclusive economic growth in Europe is one of the Finnish presidency's main priorities. Finnish minister Aino-Kaisa Pekonen lays out her vision for "the economy of well-being".
Five takeaways from the EU’s economic recommendations to member states
While the public finances of all EU member states are now officially out of the “red zone”, the European Commission on Wednesday (5 June) still had tough economic policy recommendations for Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece and Germany.
Greek parliament approves first post-bailout budget
Greek lawmakers approved on Tuesday (18 December) the country's first post-bailout budget which projects a high primary surplus next year and sees a pick-up in economic growth.
Salvini says Commission approved the Italian budget
Italy has done a deal with the European Commission over its contested 2019 budget, a spokeswoman at the Economy Ministry said on Tuesday (18 December), signaling an end to weeks of wrangling that had shaken financial markets.
Green transition: ECB and budgetary authorities should face their responsibilities
Reforming the rules for coordinating budgetary and economic policies in the eurozone is a necessity to conciliate economic, social and climate objectives, write Olivier Bodin and Michael Vincent.
Another German budget without new debt
The German Bundestag adopted the national 2019 budget with the votes of the 'Grand Coalition' last Friday (23 November), with expenditure reaching a record €356 billion and a particular rise in defence spending. Nevertheless, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has managed to avoid creating any new debt. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission ‘not at war’ with Italy, Juncker says
The European Commission has no plan to start a war with Italy over its budget, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said a day after a working dinner with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday (24 November). But Rome confirmed that the main reforms included in the disputed budget will stay unchanged.
Commission: Italy, EU to work to bring views on 2019 budget closer together
Italy and the European Commission will work in the coming days to bring closer their positions on Italy's 2019 draft budget, which the EU executive says breaks EU laws by not reducing the country's huge public debt.
Commission launches excessive deficit procedure against Italy, saying it is ‘sleepwalking into instability’
The European Commission hedged its bets and called for the opening of an excessive deficit procedure against Italy on Wednesday (21 November) as Rome refused once again to revise its draft budget plan.
Italian populist government braces for EU budget rejection
The Italian government expects the European Commission to decide for the first time ever on Tuesday (23 October) to ask a member state to revise its draft budget, a government source said on Sunday.
Italy dismisses concern the EU will reject its budget plan
The Italian government on Thursday (4 October) dismissed concerns that the European Commission would reject its plan to raise deficit spending next year and signalled that it would not backtrack, even under market pressure.
Moscovici slams Italy budget as stocks plunge
The European Union on Friday (28 September) issued a stern warning to Italy's populist leaders following their defiant pledge to increase spending and run a budget deficit that risks putting Rome on a collision course with Brussels.
Italy defies Brussels with budget deficit at 2.4%
Italy's government on Thursday (27 September) targeted the budget deficit at 2.4% of gross domestic product for the next three years, defying Brussels and marking a victory for party chiefs over economy minister Giovanni Tria, an unaffiliated technocrat.
Italy on collision course with EU over budget deficit
Party leaders in the Italian coalition government signalled they will seek leeway from the EU to increase next year's budget deficit, heading on a collision course with the European Commission and investors who want it cut.
Merkel blowing smoke on reform proposals, says former German MEP
With proposals for a European Monetary Fund and an investment budget for the eurozone, Chancellor Angela Merkel only tentatively moves closer to French President Emmanuel Macron. But the proposals do not go far enough, German MP Franziska Brantner told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
Commission demands ‘credible response’ from Italy to reduce debt
The European Commission on Wednesday (23 May) approved Italy’s efforts to balance its public accounts but asked the new government for a “credible response” in order to further reduce its immense public debt.
Commission passes the ball on sovereign debt rules
European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Wednesday (7 March) that he does not intend to amend the regulatory treatment of sovereign debt held by banks following inconclusive discussions at international level.