About: European semester Archives

The European Central Bank and Germany must do more to boost growth and fight a "real deflationary risk" in Europe, French President Francois Hollande told the newspaper Le Monde in an interview.

Only 18% of the European Commission’s recommendations for economic reforms, aimed at paving the way to economic recovery, are actually implemented by the member states, according to a new study by the European Parliament.

The European Commission told France and Italy on Monday (2 June) to stick to their pledges to curb spending while reforming their economies, showing little sign of wavering on EU budget rules.

As the European Commission prepares to issue its first-ever social policy recommendations in the framework of the strengthened European Semester of economic policy coordination, there are lingering questions as to what the whole process will actually achieve, with critics branding it a "communications exercise".

EU heads of state gathered in Brussels on 20 and 21 March for their last summit before the EU elections in May, reaching an agreement on a European response to the crisis in Ukraine, energy and climate targets and more. Read our wrap-up of the European Council, below.

European Commission Vice-President Olli Rehn, responsible for economic and monetary affairs, told the European Parliament yesterday (25 February) that the EU economy was recovering overall, but warned of the risks of “protracted low growth” if structural reforms were not implemented.

Having managed to reach deals on banks and the long-term budget, EU leaders have started their two-day summit somewhat relieved, as they embark on talks to tackle youth employment, finance much-needed investments and boost growth. EURACTIV obtained the draft conclusions. Read our live coverage, below.

The European Commission tabled yesterday (29 May) its “country-specific reports” with recommendations to capitals to boost competitiveness and make their economies more dynamic. In an apparent shift from austerity, this year's recommendations call on countries to be “more ambitious” in spurring growth.

The EU has tightened its grip on economic governance, but a wrong focus might prove poisonous, writes Renaud Thillaye.

Minimum wages increasingly appear as proper tools to fight cross-border social dumping, argues Klaus Heeger, despite objections that the EU has little or no competence on pay.

Spain faces spiralling debt unless its banking sector can be resolved the European Commission warned yesterday (30 May), in a series of country-specific reports totalling 1.500 pages, which also saw warnings sent to Cyprus and France.

László Andor, the EU's commissioner for employment and social affairs, yesterday (10 May) welcomed indications that Germany is prepared to bear inflation above the European Central Bank's target level and raise wages to help the struggling peripheral eurozone.

The European Commission yesterday (7 June) slammed national economic reform plans for lacking ambition and concreteness.

A few weeks after France and Germany tabled proposals for a competitiveness pact among eurozone countries, Jacques Delors supported their political move and backed rewards for good budgetary behaviour.

To help countries get their budgets in sync, the European Commission on Wednesday (12 January) unveiled its first annual list of growth targets. Member states will use these benchmarks to jawbone nations with risky spending policies to change their flagrant ways.

Besides reforming supervision of EU financial markets, a 'European semester' is to ensure from 2011 that national economic and fiscal policies are assessed in Brussels first before they are adopted by member states. 'What does this mean exactly?' asks Nicolaus Heinen, an analyst at Deutsche Bank (DB) Research, in a September analysis.