EU Council recommends fiscal reforms for France in 2026

The Council of the European Union has adopted a 2026 Recommendation on the economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies of France.

• The recommendation calls on France to respect the corrective fiscal path, reinforce defence and security spending, keep energy-price support temporary and targeted, and continue reforms and investments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
• It also urges France to simplify regulation, boost business R&D and SME digitalisation, accelerate decarbonisation, expand renewables, strengthen grid capacity and interconnections, and address skills, education, poverty, childcare, and water infrastructure challenges.