According to the European Parliament Vice-President Othmar Karas, national parliaments must play a much more active role in the European Semester because, although it shapes recommendations in almost all policy fields, it is elected representatives who ultimately must take responsibility for decisions.

One of the key messages launched at the opening session of a two-day meeting of MEPs and over 100 MPs was that national parliaments need to take better ownership of the European Semester and develop an effective working relationship with the European Parliament if the EU's ever-widening democratic deficit on economic governance is to be reversed. In October 2012, MEPs highlighted that the negotiating mandate on the next EMU already stressed that accountability structures are already in place, in the shape of the European Parliament and national parliaments, and the goal should be to strengthen them further.

EU Commissioner Olli Rehn also stressed that national parliamentary involvement in the Semester is paramount for people to understand why reform efforts are necessary. Commissioner Laszlo Andor added that the EU's "dramatically worsening" unemployment would be high on the agenda at this year's Semester. The issue of jobs and solidarity was taken up by various MPs and MEPs, many of whom called on the Commission to rework its policy mix, away from austerity and towards growth incentives, jobs and more solidarity.

MPs and MEPs also debated how best to improve coordination among parliaments. Many felt that whilst this forum was a good way to share concerns and best practices, the system would need to be developed further to strengthen democratic legitimacy. Others stressed that although parliaments should push for common goals in the Semester, their national specificities should not be disregarded.