The European Semester Package – the Commission’s economic and guidance document – includes country reports assessing economic, employment and social developments in each Member State, in line with the priorities set out in the Competitiveness Compass. Member States, the Commission explains, “are encouraged to boost their competitiveness by closing the innovation gap, advancing decarbonisation in line with the Clean Industrial Deal, reducing excessive dependencies, increasing security and resilience, including by building up defence capabilities and promoting skills and quality jobs while ensuring social fairness”. This year’s country reports also take stock of the implementation of recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) and Cohesion Policy programmes.

“With the Recovery and Resilience Facility ending in 2026, swift and targeted implementation is essential”, a statement explains, “with most Member States having to accelerate progress”. “The European Semester is the basis of a more integrated approach of the Members States’ economic policies”, said Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the Commission. “This Commission is determined to deepen our integration of the single market and to coordinate the collective efforts for competitiveness. This year’s recommendations are the continuity of our reform agenda and aim at emboldening Member States in their strive for more innovation, more decarbonised industries and more strategic autonomy”.