European Economic
and Social Committee
2025 European Semester – Autumn Package
In an opinion adopted by the ECO section, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) provided key recommendations on the 2025 European Semester – Autumn package, addressing crucial economic and social challenges facing the EU. The opinion highlights the importance of investment in sustainability, competitiveness, and reforms, alongside strengthening cooperation among Member States to ensure the EU remains resilient and competitive in a challenging global context. The Committee also calls for enhanced civil society involvement and better alignment between national and European policies to support sustainable economic growth and social cohesion.
Key points
In the opinion, the EESC
- finds it regrettable that the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey was not published as part of the Autumn package, a key document for political orientations;
- stresses the importance of European institutions being prepared for rising geopolitical risks and their potential impacts on trade, inflation, and economic growth;
- supports the launch of the Competitiveness Compass and calls for strategic investments in energy and digital sectors, along with the creation of a European Fund for Strategic Investments to address the EU’s investment deficit;
- advocates for better mechanisms to involve civil society and social partners in decision-making, a pragmatic assessment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), and enhanced cooperation between Member States to improve economic policies and productivity.
Additional information
EESC Section: Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)
Opinion Type: Exploratory opinion (at the request of the European Commission)
Rapporteur: Petru Sorin DANDEA
Reference: ECO/657-EESC-2024
Date of adoption by section: 6/2/2025
Date of adoption in plenary: 26-27/2/2025
Contact
Thomas Kersten
Press Officer
Tel.: +32 (0) 2 546 8931
Email: thomas.kersten@eesc.europa.eu
Anna Pantazi
Policy Officer
Tel.: +32 (0) 2 546 8931
Email: eco@eesc.europa.eu