The Lisbon Process in the European Union: Lessons for Croatia the Commission in April 2005 and accepted by the Council in June 2005. There are 24 guidelines six of which(Nos. 1 to 6) are devoted to macroeconomic policy, ten of which(Nos. 7 to 16) to microeconomic policy and eight of which (Nos. 17 to 24) to employment policy. These three areas were to provide a framework for the establishment of National Reform Programmes. The macroeconomic guidelines focus on growth- supporting reforms of public spending supported by structural reforms. The microeconomic guidelines include product market reforms and some actions based on facilitating ICT diffusion and investments in research and development. The employment guidelines focus not only on investments in human capital and active labour policy, but also on promoting flexibility of labour markets and reform of social security so as to support job creation. Member states were expected to draw up their own National Reform Programmes in line with both the integrated guidelines and their own needs and specific situation. The NRPs were expected to include three core chapters (macroeconomic policy, microeconomic policy and employment policy). Moreover, the Council encouraged member Countries to appoint their national Lisbon coordinators- so called Mr or Ms Lisbon. The national dimension of the renewed Lisbon Process is accompanied by a supranational one. It is based on the Community Lisbon Programme prepared by the Commission and devoted to all actions to be taken at Community level. Within the renewed Lisbon Process a new monitoring system was launched, within which, every year starting from autumn 2006, member states will have to prepare reports on follow-up to the Lisbon Strategy. After submission of the reports, the Council and Commission will analyze the implementation reports and the European Commission will then issue an annual progress report assessing the National Reform Programmes issued by the member states. This may contain country-specific recommendations. The first progress report was issued in January 2006. On the basis of the Commission's assessment, the European Council reviews progress every spring and decides on any necessary adjustments to the integrated guidelines. Thus, the new approach to the Lisbon Process reduces the number of targets and focuses the strategy on the two strategic goals of growth and employment, reducing, at the same time, inconsistencies between the Lisbon goals. It also improved the Open Method of Coordination(OMC) and strengthened national ownership of the Lisbon Strategy. Moreover, while nationalising the Lisbon Strategy, it drew member states into a reform coordination system in which the Commission plays the role of an independent monitoring agency, with the 85