Commission provides policy guidance to EU countries to boost competitiveness

The European Commission has provided policy guidance to EU countries under the 2024 European Semester Spring package to build a robust and future-proof economy.  The European Semester is a yearly exercise that helps identify the most pressing economic and social challenges in EU countries, and policy responses to allow them to fulfil their potential – for the benefit of us all. This spring, the focus lies on the EU’s and EU countries’ long-term competitiveness, prosperity and leadership on the global stage. 

The Spring package takes stock of the implementation of EU countries’ recovery and resilience plans and cohesion policy programmes. It also includes fiscal policy guidance which will help to strengthen EU countries’ debt sustainability and promote sustainable and inclusive growth across the EU. 

For each country the Commission prepared a report, in which it analyses the economic and social developments across EU countries. Based on these analyses, the Commission prepared country-specific recommendations on how best to address socio-economic challenges outlined in the country reports and boost EU countries’ competitiveness and prosperity. For 12 EU countries the Commission also prepared a separate report to assess their compliance with the deficit criterion of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. 

According to the Spring package, most EU countries continue to make good progress in the delivery of their recovery and resilience plans and cohesion policy programmes. The country-specific recommendations call on some EU countries to accelerate implementation of their plans and programmes by undertaking further specific actions. 

As part of the package, the Commission has also issued Guidelines for EU countries’ employment policies, establishing common priorities for national employment and social policies to make them fairer and more inclusive particularly in the areas of education, training, new technologies and artificial intelligence.  

The European Semester has played a crucial role in supporting strong and coordinated economic policy responses over the past five years, as the EU was confronted by a series of challenges. The EU has managed to demonstrate economic and social resilience in the face of major shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the related energy price surges and inflation hikes. 

For more information 

The European Semester  

The European Semester in your country  

An economy that works for people  

Press release: European Semester Spring Package provides policy guidance to enhance the EU's competitiveness and resilience, and maintain sound public finances 

Questions and answers on the 2024 European Semester Spring Package 

Spring 2024 Economic Forecast 

The Recovery and Resilience Facility  

NextGenerationEU