The Council of the European Union will formally adopt final country-specific recommendations (CSRs) for all 27 Member States in July 2026, based on Commission proposals submitted on 3 June 2026. The recommendations cover economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies, combining recommendations under Articles 121(2) and 148(4) TFEU. They align with Regulation 2024/1263, in force since 30 April 2024, and, where applicable, with the preventive part of the macroeconomic imbalances procedure under Article 6(1) of Regulation 1176/2011.
The draft texts in the annex currently finalise only employment, social and common-interest aspects for EPSCO and ECOFIN; ECOFIN-only aspects will be set out in the final version. The European Council discussed the integrated CSRs on 18-19 June, concluding the 2026 European Semester. After further preparatory work at committee level, the Council will adopt the final texts in July 2026. The annex lists a separate document reference for each Member State (e.g., Belgium: 10158/26, Germany: 10166/26).
The CSRs are a key tool of the European Semester, the EU's annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination. They provide tailored policy guidance to each Member State, addressing issues such as public finances, structural reforms, and employment. The adoption in July will mark the final step in the 2026 cycle, with Member States expected to take the recommendations into account when drafting their national budgets and reform programmes.
Stakeholders most affected include national governments, which must implement the recommendations; EU institutions, which monitor compliance; businesses, which may face regulatory changes; and citizens, who may experience impacts on employment and social policies. The recommendations are non-binding but carry political weight, as they are part of the EU's surveillance framework.