Brussels, 28/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and Vice President, Günter Verheugen, met up on Tuesday afternoon with the national coordinators and leaders for the implementation of the Lisbon strategy. Discussions focused on how to reach the objectives Member States signed up to at the European Council of 23-24 March, particularly with regard to funding for R&D, the single one-stop offices for innovative start-ups and employment or training opportunities for young people in the six months following the end of their studies. In a press release Mr Barroso stated, “the European Council gave us a platform for speeding up the Agenda for jobs and growth. The role of national coordinators is crucial for guaranteeing results on the ground and that's why I want to strike while the iron's hot by meeting up just after the summit”.