Health and the European Semester

The European Semester is the EU’s annual cycle of economic and social policy coordination. The Semester affects health care, early childhood education, unemployment, as well as social transfer and pension systems.

Similarly, the Semester is also a tool and a mechanism which can assist health agencies in their work to improve public health and act on the determinants of health. Therefore, it is essential they understand what it is and how to work with it.

EuroHealthNet has been analysing the European Semester process from a health equity and wellbeing perspective since its inception in 2011 – determining whether its outcomes have resulted in more equitable, resilient, ‘better’ societies, and how.

The approach taken by EuroHealthNet also means exploring how the European Semester process can contribute to reforms in other key areas important to health and wellbeing, like housing, early childhood development and care, social inclusion via skill building and literacy, the digital transition and climate adaptation as well as food system sustainability. Ultimately, we took this time to discuss and explore how the European Semester can contribute to the achievement of Wellbeing Economies, moving toward economic models that benefit people and the planet while ensuring human dignity and fairness.

An introduction to the European Semester and its relevance for health is available in this article in EuroHealthNet Magazine.

For a comprehensive analyses please read EuroHealthNet’s 2024 European Semester report.