In the course of an exchange of views with the MEPs of the committees on employment and social affairs (EMPL) and economic and monetary affairs (ECON) on the European Semester 2018 and the country-specific recommendations, on Thursday 28 June, the Commissioner for the euro and Social Dialogue, Valdis Dombrovskis, sought to reassure his audience as to the scope of the link between the cohesion policy and the European Semester.
Replying to MEP Mady Delvaux (S&D, Luxembourg), who expressed concern that the cohesion policy was being subordinated to the European Semester, Dombrovskis stressed that this link would be “fairly limited”, as the cohesion policy pursues principally investment objectives that are different from those of the European Semester, which seeks to encourage structural and fiscal reforms.
Similarly, Dombrovskis stressed the importance of striking a balance between the European Semester and the European Pillar of Social Rights. He argued that it is important to avoid becoming derailed and to maintain the budgetary trajectory and structural reforms, to ensure the confidence of the markets.
Several MEPs also questioned the effectiveness of the country-specific recommendations, as they are not binding and appear to be followed to very different degrees by the member states. “The recommendations are not orders, injunctions, but dialogue”, Commissioner Dombrovskis replied, stressing the need for the member states to take ownership of the European Semester at national level.
Several MEPs regretted the absence of the Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Pierre Moscovici, due to the European Council (see other article and EUROPE 12051) and, to a lesser extent, that of the Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Marianne Thyssen, who had to leave the hearing for a while to take part in the official signature ceremony of the 'posted workers' directive. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)