On June 2, the European Commission adopted its country-specific recommendations on the reforms to adopt in order to improve growth, employment and competitiveness within the framework of the “European Semester,” one of the pillars of Europe’s new economic governance. The Commission points out that recovery remains uneven and weak and gives a picture of an unequal Europe with populations that are increasingly exposed to the poverty risk. This 4th edition of rounds of recommendations stays on course with the labor market reforms and method for defining pay.
For the first time, the Commission used indicators on social imbalance, “to ensure that country-specific recommendations are based on sound analysis and address employment and social concerns more precisely,” said László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. The impact of this novelty is minimal as these recommendations aren’t really different from the other three.
The EU’s social situation. Figures speak for themselves: about 26 million people are unemployed (12 percent of the population). 50 percent have been looking for a job for more than a year, and 5.3 million are youngsters.
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