Communication: Towards a positive fiscal stance for the euro area

In the Letter of Intent accompanying the 2016 State of the Union address, President Juncker and First Vice-President Timmermans announced the intention of the Commission to promote "in the next Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area, a positive fiscal stance for the euro area, in support of the monetary policy of the European Central Bank".

This Communication is adopted together with the Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area for 2017-2018 and sets out the rationale behind its fiscal aspects. Their publication at the start of the annual cycle of the European Semester of economic policy coordination, together with the Annual Growth Survey 2017 and related documents, allows for a timely debate on economic and social priorities at the EU, euro area and the national levels. The outcome of this debate should be reflected in Member States' policies and in particular in their economic and fiscal programmes in spring of next year.

ESO: Background information: Launch of the 2017 European Semester http://www.europeansources.info/record/launch-of-the-2017-european-semester/

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