The European Economic and Social Committee’s Permanent Group on the European Semester (ESG) held a consultation in Bucharest on February 3, 2026, on national reform and investment proposals and their implementation at EU level. Romania is the first of five Member States where consultations are taking place this year. Representatives of organised civil society in Romania were invited to the event.

The Economic and Social Council was represented by Mr. Sterică Fudulea, President, Mr. Bogdan Simion, Vice-President representing civil society associations, Mr. Victor Florescu, Vice-President representing trade unions, Ms. Cătălina Voicu, member of the Executive Bureau representing employers, and Ms. Adriana Radu, member of the Plenary representing civil society associations.

The consultation, launched in 2021 and organised annually, brings together national Economic and Social Councils, social partners and civil society organisations from EU member states. The round table held on February 3 was dedicated to analyzing the specific recommendations addressed to Romania for 2025, with a focus on the proposed reforms and investments, the status of their implementation, and the completion of the national recovery and resilience plan. Through this process, the EESC aims to consolidate a more participatory model of economic governance, based on greater commitment at national level and more active involvement of organized civil society.

The interactive debates were structured around four main topics: “Reform measures and investments in Member States, in particular those based on the country-specific recommendations for 2025 and their implementation”; “Completing the implementation of national recovery and resilience plans”; “Implementing and monitoring medium-term national fiscal and structural plans”; and “The link between the multiannual financial framework and the European Semester”.

During the debates, participants addressed the difficulties encountered in the process of harmonizing national legislation with European directives, the necessary sectoral reforms, and the importance of investments in connectivity and the modernization of existing infrastructure, biodiversity protection, monitoring of medium-term national fiscal and structural plans, as well as the reforms and additional investments indispensable for achieving the objectives undertaken by Romania.

The ESC President highlighted one of the European Commission’s key recommendations, which urges Member States to prioritize education and skills development in strategic sectors of the EU economy. “The gaps between Romania’s south-eastern and northern regions and the rest of the country continue to widen, against the backdrop of the armed conflict at the border. Labor productivity remains low and investment in vocational training is insufficient, especially in the areas most exposed to the current geopolitical context. These regions need urgent intervention to strengthen economic stability, national security, and 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,” said Mr. Sterică Fudulea.

The European Semester Group will prepare and subsequently submit to the European institutions a report reflecting the conclusions and main topics of the discussions.