Sofia Fernandes, senior research fellow for economic and social affairs, presents the summary of a debate on the topic “The Juncker Commission: what internal priorities (growth, social, subsidiarity and so forth)?” held at the annual meeting of the Jacques Delors Institute’s European Steering Committee (ESC) on 13 December 2014.

On the basis of introductory speeches by former European Commission Vice-President Etienne Davignon and by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, participants debated the Juncker Commission’s main internal priorities.

The ensuing debate revolved around three core issues:

1. The impact of the new institutional and political landscape on European action and how to avoid plunging headlong into the pit of a political crisis.

2. The priorities for strengthening growth in Europe: towards a “New Deal” based on debt reduction, investment and structural reforms.

The synthesis of the debate on EU external challenges is also available on our website.