The European Commission released its Spring Package as part of the 2023 European Semester process.
The European Semester is an annual review of the Member States by the European Commission. It ensures coordination between the Member States in areas such as economic and fiscal policies, but in recent years has also had an increasing focus on social issues. The Spring package sees the release of the Country Reports and the Country Specific Recommendations. The Country Reports outline the list of issues observed in each Member State, and the Recommendations transform these into advice.
Tendencies in the 2023 Semester cycle
For another year in a row, disability issues were very present within the Country Reports and, to a lesser extent, in the Reccomendationss. The most common disability-specific issues mentioned in the Country Reports included:
- barriers to employment and the disability employment gap
- poverty and exclusion among persons with disabilities
- adequacy of social protection schemes
- inclusive education
- de-institutionalisation, community-based services and long-term care
- housing for persons with disabilities and “vulnerable groups”
- skills development
- sheltered workshops
- energy poverty
- legislation on discrimination
- accessible transport
- healthcare for persons with disabilities
- accessibility of public buildings
- social services and mental health.
When it comes to the Country Specific Recommendations, Member States were systematically advised to:
- decrease energy support measures put in place to support citizens with the cost-of-energy crisis
- told that if prices increase again, resulting in the need for support measures, these should prioritise protecting vulnerable households
- improve skills and the labour market participation of groups far away from the labour market (Belgium, Austria, Finland, France and the Netherlands).
- improve access to quality, inclusive education (France, Luxembourg and Sweden)
- improving access to healthcare and primary care (Greece and Lithuania)
- improve affordable and social housing (Czechia)
- improving digital skills (Germany)
You can read more about the outcomes of the 2023 Spring Package, and see what points and recommendations were mentioned for each Member State, by reading our full analysis.