The European Commission issued its first annual "competitiveness report" last week, assessing countries' economic performance under the newly agreed framework for budgetary surveillance, which foresees sanctions for countries with serious imbalances. Many states showed serious shortfalls, the report found.
The report, published on Friday (14 October), confirms the deep divide between North and West European countries on the one hand, and those on the South and East on the other hand.
Labour productivity and innovation are well above average in countries such as Ireland or Germany, while serious shortfalls were apparent in Bulgaria or Spain, the report shows.
To read the full, original article click on this link: EU's first 'competitiveness report' exposes shortfalls | EurActiv
