The European Commission recently released its European Semester 2017 assessment, suggesting that many European Union countries have improved economically in the past year.

The recently released assessment, including 27 country reports for member states except Greece, due to its dedicated stability support program, shows that the countries are progressing towards mitigating economic challenges from lingering effects of the economic crisis and structural weaknesses.

The analyses are conducted by the Commission of Member States and show that boosting investment, pursuing structural reforms and sound budgetary policies have been successful. Based on moderate growth and positive economic indicators like employment and wage increases, the commission has identified the risk of poverty and income and opportunity inequality as issues that will need to be addressed. In-depth reviews included in some of the reports also revealed correction of current account deficits and reductions in stocks of private, public and external debt.

At a recent meeting, the European Commission saw the body report on fiscal compact, which, in response to the financial crises, holds 22 member states to increased fiscal discipline and its transposition into international law. Finally, the commission discussed reception of the Polish response to the commission’s recommendation and the initial steps in preparing a white paper on the future of Europe.