The Council broadly endorsed the Commission's amended proposal and accepted the majority of the European Parliament's amendments. Those accepted include:
- amendments relating to the Luxembourg process and to the involvement of the social partners and local and regional authorities.
- amendments aimed at making the general public more aware of the strategy and measures involved
- the amendment concerning the assessment of the European Employment Strategy.
Certain amendments were rejected and in particular, the amendments concerning participation by the Parliament. The Council states that interinstitutional relations with Parliament are governed by the TEC. The Council has dropped the financial reference amount to EUR 50 million. It noted that the Commission had calculated the proposed amount on the basis of actual needs as well as ability of those involved in the management of human and physical resources to effect the expenditure. The amount adopted by the Council also takes into account the actual amount spent under the previous Decision, which was less than the financial reference amount originally set. �