Transposition of the revised national budgetary frameworks directive: Provisions relevant for independent fiscal institutions

European Fiscal Board (EFB) assesses progress on transposition of revised EU Budgetary Framework Directive

BRUSSELS – The European Fiscal Board (EFB) today released a report providing a comprehensive assessment of national efforts to transpose the revised Council Directive 2011/85/EU on budgetary frameworks, following its 2024 amendments. The findings, based on a survey of independent fiscal institutions (IFIs) and their own assessment of progress thus far, reveal a mixed picture: while some Member States are found to have made genuine efforts to align domestic legislation with the directive’s strengthened provisions, others seem to have adopted a minimalist approach or taken no measures at all yet, raising concerns over potential gaps in fiscal governance.

The EFB observes i) delayed processes: in some Member States, concrete drafts remain unpublished, with IFIs citing political hesitation or bureaucratic delays as key obstacles; ii) scarce media and public engagement: the transposition has received limited attention, with most countries seeing only sporadic coverage in specialised outlets; and iii) varied IFI involvement: while some institutions were genuinely consulted throughout the process, others were merely informed, or learned of changes only when drafts were tabled in parliament.

Pieter Hasekamp, Chair of the European Fiscal Board, stated:

"Legislation and improved procedures are only the first step. The next challenge lies in how the safeguards are guaranteed in practice, especially in this challenging economic and geopolitical conjuncture. The EFB is committed to cooperate closely with IFIs and has a stake in the adequacy of their safeguards.”

The EFB remarks that, while for many Member States the transposition is still ongoing, it is nonetheless a good time to start focusing on enforcement. In particular, the EFB underscores the need for: i) monitoring compliance, especially for countries with partial or unclear measures; ii) addressing gaps in access to information which could weaken IFIs’ ability to scrutinise fiscal policies; and iii) encouraging public debate to ensure transparency and pressure governments to honour their commitments.

About the EFB The European Fiscal Board is an independent advisory body to the European Commission and the Council.

Media Contact: Secretariat of the European Fiscal Board Email: EFB-SECRETARIATec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EFB-SECRETARIAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)