International issues
European Union (EU) information
As part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, member states submit National Reform Programmes outlining their structural reform plans in April every year. Member states also report on their economies and public finances through Stability and Convergence Programmes, in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. The new EU surveillance structure under Europe 2020, known as the European Semester, aligns reporting on fiscal and structural policies.
UK National Reform Programme
Each year, Member States submit National Reform Programmes as part of the European Semester.
The UK submitted its 2013 National Reform Programme on 30 April 2013. It draws on publicly available information and sets out the UK’s economic prospects and plans. It includes:
- the Office for Budget Responsibility’s 'Economic and fiscal outlook’;
- the six recommendations addressed to the UK by the June 2012 European Council;
- action taken by the Government to address these challenges, including announcements made at Budget 2013, the Autumn Statement 2012 and updates on announcements made at Budget 2012; and
- the UK’s approach to national monitoring in line with the five headline European targets agreed by the European Council in June 2010.
Previous National Reform Programmes can be accessed below:
- Europe 2020: UK National Reform Programme 2012 (PDF 1MB)
- Europe 2020: UK National Reform Programme 2011 (PDF 1MB)
- Europe 2020: UK draft National Reform Programme 2010 (PDF 397KB)
UK Convergence Programme
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union requires all EU Member states to annually report on their economies and public finances to the European Commission. The UK’s economic and fiscal situation and forecasts are sent in its annual Convergence Programme.
The requirement to submit the Convergence Programme is written into the Treaty. This requirement forms part of the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact, which was agreed in 1997 and took effect in 1999. The UK has therefore sent an annual Convergence Programme to the Commission since 1999.
The 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 Convergence Programmes can be viewed below. All of their content is drawn from previously published material, most of it from the Budget report and the Office for Budget Responsibility’s 'Economic and fiscal outlook'.
Documents
2012-13
2011-12 2010-11 (This document has been divided into three parts to make it easier to download)Share
International issues index
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- Bilateral loan to Ireland
- Balance of competences review
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