EU proposals for growth

The European Commission has set out its recommendations to member states which it thinks will be “key to making Europe’s return to jobs and growth sustainable”.

The ETUC has welcomed the fact that the recommendations lay less emphasis on reducing public spending than in the past, and include positive “references to improved child and health care”.

However, it is concerned that there is no recognition of the need to increase wages in order to boost demand.

These “country-specific recommendations”, which have been published annually since 2011, are not binding but they are an attempt by the Commission to influence developments in individual member states.

In the past, they have been attacked by the unions for interfering in national collective bargaining structures and trying to drive down wages.

http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/country-specific-recommendations/index_en.htm

www.etuc.org/press/country-specific-recommendations-2015-eu-needs-increase-wages#.VXB-IkbK8nk