EAPN presents its members’ assessment of the 2017 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs): More Social Europe in the European Semester? On the 22nd May 2017, the European Commission adopted the 2017 Country-Specific Recommendations. This paper sets out the main messages and recommendations from country-by-country detailed assessment of the CSRs. The assessment, carried out together with our members, looked at progress on Social Europe, signs of links to the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as delivery on the Europe 2020 Strategy targets on poverty reduction, employment and education. A detailed country by country analysis is annexed.
Main messages on the Country-Specific Recommendations in 2017
- 11 ‘poverty CSRs’, but lacking consistency and an integrated approach rooted in social rights
- Deficit reductions undermine policy coherence on poverty, some progress on tax
- Adequacy and coverage of minimum income, but social protection still viewed as a cost
- Cost efficiency in health, care and pensions, rather than access to key services, but some support for improvements in universal systems and social housing
- Inclusive labour markets and quality of work get limited support, while the narrow focus is on getting people into work
- Some positive proposals on inclusiveness and quality of education, but it is still primarily perceived as a labour market tool
