The Spring 2026 European Semester package sets out a roadmap for promoting economic resilience and social cohesion across the EU

The Commission has adopted the 2026 Spring Package of the European Semester. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, the package sets out policy guidelines for Member States, with a particular focus on strengthening competitiveness, strategic autonomy, economic and social resilience and EU cohesion, whilst maintaining fiscal sustainability.

The 2026 cycle of the European Semester provides a robust analytical framework for identifying future policy and investment needs across a wide range of areas, including those aimed at reducing economic, social and territorial disparities. In this context, the 2026 country-specific report on Spain analyses economic and social developments and assesses the extent to which Spain has implemented the full set of country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council in 2025.

Based on the analysis and the main challenges identified in the country reports, the Commission proposed country-specific recommendations for 2026, which provide guidance tailored to each Member State.

The Spring Package calls on Member States to adopt policy measures to strengthen the EU’s competitiveness. To this end, the following is recommended for Spain:

• Ensure that any measures taken to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices are temporary, aimed at protecting vulnerable households or addressing the needs of energy-intensive businesses.
• Expand the housing stock, in particular by streamlining planning permission processes, and increase the supply of social and affordable housing.
• Promote productivity and innovation by reducing the administrative burden and regulatory fragmentation at regional level, and facilitate business innovation and expansion in high value-added sectors.
• Strengthenfiscal sustainability and increase spending efficiency, whilst reinforcing defence spending.
• Improve the performance of the judicial system by ensuring adequate staffing, harmonised digitalisation and full interoperability at regional level.
• Step upcoordination on climate change resilience at national, regional and local levels and adapt critical infrastructure. Invest in energy storage, cross-border networks and water-saving technologies to safeguard water and energy supplies and reduce emissions. Promote the decarbonisation of industry and the electrification of transport.
• Tackle child poverty. Reduce skills mismatches, improve basic skills and combat early school leaving. Address regional disparities in access to opportunities and services.
• Improve access to healthcare by expanding primary care and long-term care capacity, tackling labour shortages and reducing waiting times.
• Ensure the continuity of reforms and investments implemented under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and accelerate efforts toimplement cohesion policy programmes.

Budgetary surveillance under the Stability and Growth Pact

In spring 2026, the Commission assessed Member States’ compliance with the EU budgetary framework. The assessment covers both 2025 and 2026 and focuses on the growth of net expenditure, taking into account the flexibility provided for in the national defence safeguard clause, where applicable. The Commission also assessed the implementation of key milestones in the reforms and investments underpinning an extension of fiscal adjustment periods, where appropriate.

Looking ahead, Member States that take measures to strengthen Europe’s energy security and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels will be able to request limited fiscal flexibility under the current national safeguard clause for defence spending. At the request of the Member State, the scope of the clause may be extended to include measures, adopted from February 2026, that reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and thereby enhance Europe’s security and resilience. Within the current ceiling (1.5% of GDP) for additional defence expenditure under the national safeguard clause, a specific annual ceiling for the period 2026–2028 (0.3% of GDP) and a cumulative ceiling (0.6% of GDP) over that same period will apply specifically to energy resilience measures. It is important to note that this approach ensures that all fiscal sustainability safeguards remain fully in place.

Next steps

The Commission invites the Eurogroup and the Council to discuss the package and endorse the guidelines presented today. It looks forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue with the European Parliament on the content of this package and each of the subsequent stages of the European Semester’s economic coordination cycle.

Background

The European Semester is an annual exercise that coordinates the EU’s economic and social policies. During the Semester, EU Member States align their budgetary and economic policies with the objectives and standards agreed at EU level. Through enhanced economic and social coordination, the European Semester aims to ensure sustainable economic growth, job creation, macroeconomic stability and sound public finances across the EU.

The Semester’s timetable follows a one-year cycle. During the first phase, EU Member States discuss their economic and budgetary plans and agree on key priorities. In the second part of the cycle, known as the ‘national semester’, Member States are expected to align national policies, in particular national budgets for the following year. In addition, the European Commission maintains a regular dialogue with Member States and stakeholders throughout the year.

More information: European Commission.