Unravelling the Influence of the European Semester and Country-Specific Recommendations in Confronting the Impact of Population Ageing

Floor Goris

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This master thesis examines the influence of the European Semester and Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) on policy related to population ageing within member states of the European Union (EU). The European Semester is a framework for coordinating economic, fiscal, employment, and social policy among EU member states. This closely interacts with the impact of an ageing population, an area of increasing importance due to demographic shifts and the challenges posed by an ageing population. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of CSRs issued between 2015 and 2020 with qualitative analysis of several specific CSR case studies on pension related CSRs. The study aims to identify and analyze the factors of reform which influence the implementation of CSRs and how these reflect instruments such as the European Semester. It is found that ageing is a small component of the recommendations issued to member states and that these CSRs are not well implemented. This has mostly to do with domestic factors, including the (in)stability of government, (the absence of) national ownership, (the absence of) economic crisis and the external factor of (the absence of) conditionality. The role of independent advisory bodies was also deemed important.

Keywords

European, Union, EU, Semester, Country, Specific, Recommendations, Ageing, Population, Pensions, Pension, Economic, Social, Policy, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Reform

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 18. 9. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 6. 2023
• Supervisor: Dr. Kostas Serdaris
• Reader: prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
European Governance / European Governance