On December 9, 2025, the European Semester Group meeting was held in Brussels at the headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). This was the second meeting organised this year, and its theme was the 2026 European Semester Autumn Package – drawing up opinions linked to the European Semester Autumn Package is one of the Group’s main activities.

Mr. Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, the new president of the Group, and Ms. Elena-Alexandra Calistru, the new president of the EESC’s Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion, gave introductory speeches.

There followed the interinstitutional debate on the Autumn Package, with the participation of representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Central Bank, and the Economic and Social Councils of Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Italy.

The ESC of Romania was represented by President Sterică Fudulea, who spoke about Romania’s situation in the context of the European Commission’s assessment in the Autumn Package. Mr. Fudulea also highlighted one of the Commission’s key recommendations urging Member States to prioritize education and the development of skills essential to strategic sectors of the EU economy. The recommended measure is intended to promote Europe’s global competitiveness and social cohesion, which are at risk due to stagnating labor productivity and a significant labor and skills shortage. 

Based on this message, Mr. Fudulea also drew attention to an increasingly worrying reality: the gap between the south-eastern and northern regions of Romania and the rest of the country continues to widen. Labor productivity remains low, and investment in vocational training is insufficient, precisely in the areas most affected by the nearby geopolitical context. In this regard, he stressed that these regions need urgent measures to strengthen both economic stability and national security, as well as the development of the education system. And for these objectives to become a reality, social and civic dialogue is essential: the involvement of social partners and non-governmental organizations contributes constantly to reducing tensions and building a more balanced society.

Mr. Fudulea recalled the opinion drafted by the ESC on “Public policies for the socio-economic strengthening of the Black Sea region and the border regions of the European Union,” which also addresses these issues.