What the EU does
Economic policy is considered under EU law as 'a matter of common concern'. The EU has established an economic governance framework to monitor, prevent, and correct economic trends in the EU that could negatively affect national economies, the euro area, or the EU as a whole.
Within this framework, in particular through the European Semester, the EU guides and coordinates macroeconomic policies to promote sustainable growth in the EU, the euro area, and Member States. This also ensures fiscal and financial stability in the EU.
To inform economic policymaking, the European Commission provides economic forecasts and conducts business and consumer surveys. The economic forecasts, published in spring and autumn each year, cover a broad range of macroeconomic and fiscal variables for all Member States, candidate countries, EFTA countries and other major advanced and emerging economies.
The regular harmonised business and consumer surveys cover different sectors of the economies in the EU and in the candidate countries.
Moreover, the EU together with all Member States implements its main recovery tool, the €650 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Its aim is to make our economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and aligned with the green and digital transitions.
Beyond the EU, the EU gives macro-financial assistance to partner countries, including ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners, helping stabilise their economies in challenging times. The EU also promotes its economic positions globally, engaging with key national and international authorities and institutions.
The euro, as the second most important currency globally, strengthens the euro area economies and financial systems from foreign exchange shocks, reduces reliance on other currencies and lowers costs for EU firms. The EU supports non-euro area Member States in their efforts to meet the criteria to adopt the euro.
Key figures
Areas of action
Latest comprehensive forecasts covering key macroeconomic and fiscal indicators
Annual coordination of the EU's economic and social policies
Temporary instrument for the EU to emerge stronger and more resilient post-COVID
The EU’s common currency used in 21 EU countries
Discover the EU strategy to invest worldwide in digital, energy, transport, health, education and research systems
Key achievements
- The EU early on identifies, prevents and addresses potentially harmful macroeconomic imbalances that could adversely affect economic stability in a particular Member State, the euro area, or the EU as a whole.
- The EU is investing and implementing reforms for the benefit of its citizens, businesses, and the environment. With the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the European Commission raises funds to support Member States finance ambitious reforms and investments.
- The EU represents EU economic interests globally. As a global economic power, it plays a constructive role in shaping the international community’s response to the most pressing economic challenges.
In focus
The EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), part of NextGenerationEU, has disbursed €450 billion in grants and loans, nearly 80% of the total requested by Member States.
The Commission is now assessing the final 32 payment requests, with the remaining €123 billion (21% of the envelope) due to be disbursed by the end of 2026.
Over the lifetime of the programme, EU countries have worked to achieve almost 6,000 milestones and targets to deliver reforms and investments supporting the green and digital transitions. So far, 4,082 have been achieved and 1,899 are under assessment.
This page was last reviewed on 23 October 2026