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European Semester Autumn Package

The Autumn Package begins the annual European Semester cycle. The Commission sets out economic and social priorities for the EU and provides Member States with policy guidance for the upcoming year.

What is the Autumn Package?

The European Semester Autumn Package, presented by the European Commission, marks the launch of a new cycle of the European Semester. The Commission provides several documents that offer an overall overview of the socio-economic landscape, highlighting key priorities and risks. It also provides policy guidance to assist EU Member States in achieving these objectives.

The Autumn Package is informed by the Autumn Economic Forecast, where the Commission reports on the macroeconomic outlook for both the EU as a whole and its Member States.

Contents of the package

The European Semester Autumn Package includes the following documents:

Additionally, the Autumn Package may include other relevant documents related to the European Semester process. For example, previous packages have featured post-programme surveillance reports that assess the repayment capacity of Member States that have benefited from financial assistance programmes.

Annual Sustainable Growth Survey

The Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) sets out the general economic, employment and social policy priorities for the European Union over the next 12 to 18 months, as assessed by the European Commission. It identifies challenges and recommends policy measures to foster growth, inclusiveness and convergence within the EU. Member States are invited to incorporate the identified priorities into their national economic policies for the upcoming year.

Since 2020, the priorities outlined by the ASGS are structured around the four dimensions of the EU's competitive sustainability agenda:

  • environmental sustainability
  • productivity
  • fairness
  • macroeconomic stability

Through these guiding principles, the European Semester ensures that economic policy puts people and planet first.

The document is a ‘communication’, a type of act where an EU institution sets out its position on a particular matter, and addresses it to other European institutions.

Opinions on the Draft budgetary plans of euro area Member States

The Opinions provide the Commission’s evaluation of how Member States’ draft budgets for the upcoming year align with EU fiscal rules, including the country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council of the European Union during the preceding summer.

The Opinions are guided by the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), a set of rules ensuring that EU countries maintain sound public finances.

Three assessments are possible for draft budget plans. They are either compliant, broadly compliant or at risk of non-compliance with the Council recommendations. Member States that are at risk are invited to take the necessary measures before finalising their national budget. In cases of serious non-compliance with the obligations under the SGP, the Commission can request a revised draft.

Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area

The draft Council recommendation provides policy advice to euro area Member States on key issues that affect the functioning of the entire euro area. This may include advice on common priorities, macro-economic challenges or institutional aspects of the Economic and Monetary Union. The recommendation aims to enhance cooperation and alignment between euro area and national policies.

The document is a ‘recommendation for a Council recommendation’, where the Commission suggests the Council to take specific initiatives. The Council further discusses the draft proposal, with the discretion to amend and adopt it.

Alert Mechanism Report

The Alert Mechanism Report (AMR) reviews the individual macroeconomic situation of all EU Member States. It is the starting point of the annual Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP) cycle, which aims to detect, prevent and correct potential macroeconomic risks that could adversely affect a specific Member State or the entire EU.

If a high risk requiring further analysis is detected, the Commission may decide to launch an in-depth review of the specific Member State. The review will verify whether the macroeconomic risk is present. Upcoming reviews are announced in the AMR. The results from the in-depth reviews are issued as part of the Spring Package.

Joint Employment Report

The proposal for a Joint Employment Report (JER) examines key employment and social developments in the EU as well as the related policy measures implemented by Member States. In addition, the JER monitors Member States’ performance in relation to the Social Scoreboard of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The JER is a ‘proposal for a joint report by the Commission and the Council’. The Council further discusses the draft proposal, with the discretion to amend and adopt it.

Next steps

Following the publication of the Autumn Package, the Commission forwards the documents to the other EU institutions and Member States for further consideration:

  • In December, the Eurogroup discusses the Opinions on the Draft budgetary plans. Member States adopt their national budgets for the upcoming year, taking into consideration both the Commission Opinions and the Eurogroup discussion.
  • Between January and February, the Council discusses and adopts conclusions regarding the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) and the Alert Mechanism Report. It also approves, with possible amendments, the draft Council recommendation for the euro area, which is then submitted to the European Council. The European Parliament also deliberates on the ASGS, with the possibility to publish an own initiative report.
  • In March, the Council adopts the Joint Employment Report with conclusions. The European Council discusses and endorses the forwarded Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area.  The Commission presents its fiscal policy guidance for the next year.

The ASGS, the Council recommendation and the Commission guidance provide a common framework for the national policy plans due to be submitted in April.

Documents