This paper aims to cast light on the different ways in which the European Semester influenced the national social policies of Belgium and France, through a careful comparison of their distinct governance responses since 2011. With the introduction of the European Semester economic governance became ‘stricter’ and more binding, meaning that the level of obligation, precision, and delegation in the policy coordination processes has been enhanced. But despite this substantial development in the EMU construct, it seems that Member States still enjoy a degree of flexibility when dealing with the implementation of the CSRs. The EU level recommendations have affected both countries, but in distinct ways due to a number of institutional and political intermediate factors. In this paper I will present findings that while Belgium’s response to certain recommendations was swift and detailed, France appeared reluctant to implement the CSRs directly and immediately, thus adopting a considerable degree of flexibility on the national level. Above all, and despite the initial fear of a ‘one-fits all’ convergence in the countries’ social policies, it appears that the current socio-economic governance of the Semester leaves space for diversity and revision of some EU level recommendations. The findings of this paper can reveal interesting insights on the national reform processes within the Semester as well as on the current level of European integration.
