The news:

On Wednesday 22 February 2017, the European Commission will present the Winter Package of the European Semester of economic policy coordination and related documents. The package will include, amongst others, the annual analysis of the economic and social situation in the Member States, the so-called Country Reports for 27 Member States (except Greece, which is under a dedicated stability support programme), including an assessment of remaining imbalances.

The background:

The European Union has set up a yearly cycle of economic policy coordination called the European Semester. The process enables the Commission to give policy guidance on the budgetary and economic plans of the Member States, before they adopt final decisions. The Commission also monitors the economies of the Member States for macroeconomic imbalances and reviews the progress towards the jobs, education, innovation, climate and poverty reduction targets of the EU's long-term growth strategy.

The event:

Vice-President Dombrovskis, Commissioner Thyssen and Commissioner Moscovici will debrief on the outcome of the College meeting, including the 2017 European Semester Winter Package and related documents, on Wednesday 22 February2017 in the Berlaymont press room. This will take place after the College meeting, with exact timing tbc. Available on EBS.

The sources:

Press material will be made available on the day.

More on the European Semester: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/european-semester_en

AGENDA/17/318