It aimed at limiting the effects of the Great Recession through national economic policies, with measures extended over a period of two years.
The European Commission published a plan on 26 November 2008 responding to the current economic crisis in the 27 member countries of the Union.
The measures included: On implementation, the Commission requested member state leaders meeting at the European Council on 11-12 December 2008 to endorse the plan.
[2] National plans are often close to 1.2 percentage points of GDP, as recommended by the European Commission, and are focused on 2008 and 2009.
Several countries have also announced short-term measures to relieve the effects of the crisis on the poorest people (increase in benefits and allowances to households with low incomes and unemployed).