The new rules, politically agreed by European Parliament and member state negotiators add clarity and simplicity to the process of fiscal surveillance by focussing on one single parameter, a government’s yearly expenditure, to analyse the sustainability of public finances. All countries will provide medium-term plans outlining their expenditure targets and how investments and reforms will be undertaken. Member states with high deficit or debt levels will receive pre-plan guidance on what their expenditure targets should look like. To ensure sustainable expenditure, numerical benchmark safeguards have been introduced, to be followed by countries with excessive debt or deficit. The rules will also add a new focus to the system which will now also actively contribute to fostering public investment in priority areas. Finally, the system will be more tailored to each country’s realities rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, and will better factor in social concerns.