European Commission
Europe 2020

Annual Growth Survey 2013

 

The Annual Growth Survey for 2013 launches the 2013 European semester for economic policy coordination, which ensures Member States align their budgetary and economic policies with the Stability and Growth Pact and the Europe 2020 strategy. It is the basis for building a common understanding about the priorities for action at the national and EU level as the EU seeks to return to a path of sustainable growth and job creation. The Annual Growth Survey should feed into national economic and budgetary decisions, which Member States will set out in Stability and Convergence Programmes (under the Stability and Growth Pact) and National Reform Programmes (under the Europe 2020 strategy) in April. These programmes will form the basis for the European Commission's proposals for country-specific recommendations in May.

 

Key messages

The EU economy is slowly starting to emerge from the deepest financial and economic crisis in decades. However, although important action has already been taken and positive trends are beginning to emerge, we remain some distance from a recovery. To restore confidence and return to growth, it is essential that Member States maintain the reform momentum, and for this reason the Commission recommends focusing on the same five priorities that were identified in last year's Survey:

• Pursuing differentiated, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation
• Restoring normal lending to the economy
• Promoting growth and competitiveness for today and tomorrow
• Tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis
• Modernising public administration

Annual growth survey [109 KB]

 

A more detailed analysis, providing the background for the Commission's findings, is provided in the annexes to the Annual Growth Survey: the Macroeconomic Report [318 KB] and the Employment Report [373 KB] .

The Survey is also underpinned by 2 reports:

• Single Market [289 KB]
• Alert Mechanism [221 KB]
  • Statistical Annex [876 KB]
  • Annex on Financial Sector Indicator [72 KB]

Reference material

For more details, please also check our Memos: Memo on the Annual Growth Survey - Memo on the Single Market Report - Memo on the Alert Mechanism - Memo on the progress towards fair and competitive tax systems

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