Glossary GLOSSARY Annual Progress Report(APR)/ European Commission's Annual Progress Report on Growth and Jobs The Annual Progress Report(APR) also known as the European Commission's Annual Progress Report on Growth and Jobs is part of a new monitoring system created within the framework of the revised Lisbon Strategy. The first APR was issued in January 2006. In the framework of the APR every year starting from autumn 2006, member states have to prepare National Progress Reports(NPRs) on follow-up to the Lisbon Strategy. After submission of NPRs and their analysis by the Council and the Commission, the European Commission issues the APR assessing the National Reform Programmes(NRPs). The APR may contain a country specific recommendation. Based on the Commission's assessment, the European Council reviews progress every spring in order to decide on necessary adjustments to the Integrated Guidelines on Growth and Jobs(IGs). In 2008, as the final year of the current three-year governance cycle the APR will be renamed into Strategic Report, which will provide a more“in­depth” review. Apart from being based on National Progress Reports(NPRs) the APRs and the Strategic Report also build upon progress reports on the implementation of the Community Lisbon Programme(CLP). Benchmarks, benchmarking The benchmarks are points of reference, defined as a result of evaluation (benchmarking) in relation to best practices. They are a tool for promoting convergence towards best practice. The term benchmarking is usually used in management and strategic management. Benchmarking provides an understanding of the processes that lead towards superior performance. It first identifies the key areas that need to be benchmarked and the appropriate criteria on which to evaluate that area. It then identifies best practice to measure how those results have been achieved. In the EU jargon, benchmarking is used to assess the relative performance of a member country in implementation of EU policy against defined targets(e.g. the Lisbon Strategy goals) and of a non­member country against meeting various EU standards(e.g. in alignment with the EU acquis for candidate countries). Benchmarking is used as a reference in 173