In the annual process leading to the report, what happened when?
At the Spring European Council in March 2005, EU leaders endorsed the new streamlined approach to the Growth and Jobs Strategy. In June, the European Council adopted the single set of guidelines on which each National Reform Programme was to be based. Member States designated national coordinators that are responsible for coordinating work at national level and involving major stakeholders. In many countries and indeed in the Commission – new mechanisms of internal cooperation were created. Teams of senior officials from the Commission visited in summer 2005 all Member States to explain the new approach, to discuss with the national coordinators and to listen to Member States views. This dialogue paved the way for ensuring that all Member States had a common understanding of how to develop their reform programmes. Most programmes were submitted to the Commission in late October 2005. In December 2005, the European Council welcomed the Community Lisbon Programme.
