Category: European Semester – publications

The Competitiveness Compass and the draft Joint Employment Report 2025 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

The Autumn Package kick-starting the European Semester 2025 was released by the European Commission in two batches, on 24 November and on 18 December 2024. While the latter batch included the usual draft Joint Employment Report, none contained the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey. This is the first ever since the establishment of the European Semester in 2011. There was only a brief accompanying communication of two and a half pages. Instead, the European Commission put forward a new document, entitled the Competitiveness Compass, on 29 January 2025. 

• Read our full response to the Competitiveness Compass and draft Joint Employment Report here!

The Competitiveness Compass is a programmatic framing document aimed to “guide the work in the coming five years” and listing “priority actions to reignite economic dynamism in Europe.” This approach means that most – if not all – other policy areas, including social and environmental policies, are subsumed to competitiveness goals. The vision seems to seek competitiveness at any price since it outlines no red lines or areas to be spared in this quest. The lack of attention to social issues is a significant step back even from the previous Annual Sustainable and Growth Surveys (itself primarily an economic document), and the narrative of the Competitiveness Compass leaves little doubt as to the low priority assigned by this Commission to equality and inclusion. 

There was also no place for Roma, ethnic minorities, racism, or discrimination anywhere in the Competitiveness Compass. This is another missed opportunity compared to the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey where, more often than not, the Roma were mentioned, or at the very least there was a commitment to the Union of Equality – also absent from the current document. The Compass includes one sentence about taking pride in Europe’s anti-discrimination laws, a sentiment that many human rights organisations would like to question. Vulnerable groups are only mentioned once in the entire text.  

The document features a small section on social fairness, which prioritises skills and jobs. Moreover, social aspects are viewed exclusively as an enabler of competitiveness rather than a goal in themselves. The European Pillar of Social Rights (Social Pillar) is mentioned once from the perspective of its role in shaping a competitive Europe. There is some positive language on quality jobs, adequate wages, inclusive labour markets and the welfare state, as well as references to welcome initiatives like the EU Job Quality Roadmap, the Affordable Housing Plan, and the EU Affordable Energy Action Plan – but no wording on the EU’s upcoming first Anti-Poverty Strategy. However, the overall approach is one of instrumentalising social policies for economic gains, where people are seen as bargaining chips in a race of global business interests.

The Competitiveness Compass also announces some very worrisome structural changes to EU processes and funds, such as aligning the new MFF with competitiveness objectives, raising great concerns that vital social funding will be cut or redirected. A new and streamlined European Semester is meant to focus on reforms and investments for competitiveness, but once again the worry is that social monitoring through the Semester might disappear or at least be significantly downsized.

We are very pleased to see Europe’s Roma acknowledged multiple times in the Joint Employment Report concerning issues such as their heightened risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion (including that of children), early school leaving, and difficult access to services and the labour market. Additionally, strong links are made to the EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation as part of the Union of Equality. Very disappointingly, though, there is no mention of antigypsyism or racism and only four references to discrimination.

The references to civil dialogue are rather poor, as the Competitiveness Compass does not mention civil society, while social partners are mentioned three times. The accompanying communication of the second batch of documents of the Autumn Package includes one explicit reference to civil society about increasing ownership of the Country Reports. Finally, the Joint Employment Report fares much better, with multiple references to the role of civil society organisations in delivering impactful and inclusive policies.  

ERGO Network will continue to advocate for a stronger focus on Roma rights and inclusion in the framework for these processes and for better synergies between the European Semester and the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, and the Union of Equality.

For more information on ERGO Network’s work on the European Semester, please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro – a.ferro@ergonetwork.org

European Commission releases Spring Package 2024 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 19 June 2024, the European Commission published the so-called Spring Package, comprising the 27 Country Reports, 27 Country-Specific Recommendations, and the accompanying Communication on the Spring Package, in the framework of the 2024 European Semester. ERGO Network and its national members have reviewed the Package to see to which extent it explicitly mentions Roma rights and inclusion, ethnic minorities, discrimination, and racism, as well as to assess whether national civil society was involved in drafting the Country Reports.

Key Findings

1.    The Communication on the Spring Package mentions the Roma twice regarding their labour market participation and the impact of inflation—but nothing on health, housing, or education.

2.    8 Country Reports include references to the Roma (BG, CZ, GR, HU, IE, RO, SK, SI) in 2024, one more than in 2023, but still insufficient as Roma live in 26 EU Member States.

3.    There is 1 Country-Specific Recommendation (SK) on Roma, who are also mentioned in 6 Preambles (BG, CZ, GR, HU, RO, SK), a significant step up from 2023 (only one Preamble, HU).

4.    Ethnic minorities feature in 4 Country Reports (BG, DE, EE, FI) and no CSRs, while discrimination is mentioned in 7 CRs (AT, HU, IE, NL, SK, ES, SE) and two Preambles (AT, NL).

5.    Civil society was poorly associated to the drafting of the Country Reports, but it is mentioned in 8 of them (CZ, DK, GR, HU, IE, LV, SK, SI), and in all Preambles except CY & ES).

Overall, while our members welcome references to Roma communities in more countries, they lament that most of the Spring Package 2024 doesn’t explicitly mention them, whereas the Roma are present in all Member States except Malta and experience rates of poverty and social exclusion of over 80% in most of them, and almost 100% in some. This situation was exacerbated by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the rising cost of living and energy price spikes. As the Package itself highlights these very challenges, it would have warranted more attention paid to one of Europe’s most left-behind communities.

The recurrent focus on competitiveness as well as productivity, and curbing public spending spells dire times for social inclusion, human rights, and equality. It is our members’ experience that, unless the Roma are explicitly named as key target beneficiaries of support measures, and unless specific measures and resources are dedicated to them, mainstream initiatives and broad national and EU funds end up not reaching them. Europe’s Roma must be specifically prioritised in the EU’s Recovery Package and associated funds if the EU is serious about delivering on its commitments for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation by 2030.

Our members equally express disappointment that issues of discrimination and antigypsyism are largely absent from the present Package, while these phenomena have increased in recent years. The fact that the country analyses and recommendations do not seek to establish explicit synergies with the EU and national Roma Frameworks and with the National Action Plans against Racism is considered a significant missed opportunity.

Finally, they deplore the lack of recognition and support given to civil society organisations in the two country documents, given that most of them are not only on the frontlines, providing essential support to communities in need, but they equally possess the knowledge, expertise, and direct links to beneficiaries which are needed to inform the design of sustainable and effective public policies.

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on the European Semester and associated frameworks (European Pillar of Social Rights, Sustainable Development Goals etc), please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.

European Commission releases Autumn Package 2024: What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 21 November 2023, the European Commission published the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, accompanied by the draft Joint Employment Report (among other annexes), launching the next European Semester 2024. The Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) highlights the main policy priorities for the European Union for the year to come, and it outlines the main tools for implementing these objectives. The Communication also outlines the key aspects of the 2024 European Semester cycle and confirms the commitment to the four complementary dimensions of environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability.

• Read our full response to the Autumn Package here!

ERGO Network warmly welcomes the explicit mention of the Roma in this year’s Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (page 9) in the context of supporting their access to employment. We further appreciate wording on the Union of Equality (page 7), which includes the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation and the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, though they are sadly not mentioned explicitly. However, disappointingly, discrimination, racism, or antigypsyism are not mentioned at all.

As every year, the main focus of the document is on the green and digital transitions. Social concerns are dealt with under the Fairness section (one of the four dimensions of the European Semester), which is rather narrowly dedicated to employment and skills. Nevertheless, we appreciate calls to strengthen collective bargaining and to raise wage levels, support adequate social protection and social inclusion, and improve access to quality early childhood education and care (although this is clearly done from a labour market perspective rather than children’s rights).

We are very pleased to see Europe’s Roma mentioned multiple times in the Joint Employment Report, concerning issues such as their heightened risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion (including that of children), low participation of Roma children in early childhood education and care, early school leaving, need for better access to desegregated housing, low employment rates, difficulties in accessing essential social services. Additionally, strong links are made to the EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation and its targets throughout the text, coupled with references to the Council Recommendation and recent Council Conclusions. Regrettably, though, there is no mention of antigypsyism or racism, and only 12 references to discrimination, however, one of them referring specifically to the plight of the Roma.

The ASGS explicitly urges Member States to “actively engage with stakeholders, including social partners, local and regional authorities, as well as relevant civil society organisations” throughout the European Semester and the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility  (our bold). This is very positive, as are the several references to civil society in the draft Joint Employment Report.

The ASGS also provides some clarity about the future of the European Semester, as well as what are the key steps and milestones to be expected for 2024. As usual, this will include the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, that of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, and that of the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the 2024 Semester will also look at the Cohesion Policy programmes, exploring how they complement the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with a view to feeding into the mid-term review of the current programming period (2021-2027).

ERGO Network will continue to advocate for a stronger focus on Roma rights and inclusion in the framework of these processes and for stronger synergies between the European Semester and the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, and other relevant policies.

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on EU social inclusion and employment policy (European Semester, European Pillar of Social Rights, Sustainable Development Goals etc), please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.

European Commission releases Spring Package 2023 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 24 May 2023, the European Commission published the so-called Spring Package, comprising the 27 Country Reports, 27 Country-Specific Recommendations, and the accompanying Communication on the Spring Package, in the framework of the 2023 European Semester. ERGO

Network and its national members have reviewed the Package, to see to which extent it explicitly mentions Roma rights and inclusion, ethnic minorities, discrimination, and racism, as well as to assess whether national civil society was involved in the drafting of the Country Reports.

• Access the full analysis here.

Overall, while our members welcome references to Roma communities in some countries, they lament that most of the Spring Package 2023 doesn’t explicitly mention them, whereas the Roma are present in all Member States except Malta, and experience rates of poverty and social exclusion of over 80% in all of them except the Czech Republic. This situation was exacerbated by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the rising cost of living and energy price spikes. As the Package itself highlights these very challenges, it would have warranted more attention paid to one of Europe’s most left-behind communities.

The recurrent focus on supporting just transitions and mitigating the consequences for vulnerable groups is very positive, however it is our members’ experience that, unless the Roma are explicitly named as key target beneficiaries of support measures, mainstream initiatives and broad national and EU funds end up not reaching them. Europe’s Roma must be specifically prioritised in the EU’s Recovery Package and associated funds, if the EU is serious about delivering on its commitments for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation by 2030.

Our members equally express disappointment that issues of discrimination and antigypsyism are not present in the Package, while these phenomena have increased in recent years. The fact that the country analyses and recommendations do not seek to establish explicit synergies with the EU and national Roma Frameworks, and with the National Action Plans against Racism, is considered a tremendous missed opportunity.

Finally, they deplore the lack of recognition and support given to civil society organisations in the documents, given that most of them are not only on the frontlines, providing essential support to communities in need, but they equally possess the knowledge, expertise, and direct links to beneficiaries which are needed to inform the design of public policies and ensure both ownership and effectiveness of interventions.

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on the European Semester and associated frameworks (European Pillar of Social Rights, Sustainable Development Goals etc), please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.