Social Platform Publishes its Annual Report on “Socialising the European Semester Process”
On 17 November 2020, Social Platform published its report “Socialising the European Semester: Analysis of the 2020 and 2021 cycles and recommendations for the future”.
It presents our views on the 2020 Semester cycle, our views on the 2021 cycle to date as well as our recommendations for the future of the process.
The report puts the European Semester process in the context of its role in monitoring and supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as the current context of the EU’s effort to ensure its recovery from the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It makes key recommendations related to strengthening the social dimension of the European Semester process and improving the design of the process to improve its impact.
Indeed, to strengthen the social dimension of the process, we advocate for a better balance between social, economic, and environmental priorities, a better inclusion of groups in vulnerable situations in the process and strengthening social investment in the process. With regards to improving the design of the process, we reflect about designing a longer Semester cycle generally and make recommendations on how to improve the coherence and consistency of topics throughout the process and on how to improve the implementation rate of reform recommendations.
We also highlight the importance of mainstreaming various EU political frameworks, including the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, throughout the European Semester process and call for the stronger involvement of stakeholders, including national parliaments, social partners and civil society organisations.
