Mr. John McCarthy:

This is the fifth cycle and the process is evolving over time. Each Presidency has tried to improve the operation of the semester. In terms of this year, the overall streamlining involves the publication of a single analytical document. Until now, two documents have been published, namely, the in-depth review and what is known as the staff working document, which was published every June. The intention is that these documents will be rolled into one document that will be published in mid-March. This will allow member states and the Commission to better prepare the country-specific recommendations. These are the types of concrete changes being made; I would not describe them as "game changers". The new Commission has proposed a little streamlining and the Latvian Presidency is running with its proposal. The purpose is to allow member states and the Commission to engage in a more meaningful manner and come up with more appropriate country-specific recommendations, which form the policy plank, if one likes, for the following 18 months.