The preparation for this Work Programme was launched with the State of the Union address of President Juncker in front of the European Parliament on 9 September and the Letter of Intent sent by him and First Vice-President Timmermans to the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council on the same day.
Tööprogrammi ettevalmistamise esimesteks sammudeks olid Euroopa Liidu olukorda käsitlev kõne, mille president Juncker pidas Euroopa Parlamendis 9. septembril, ja kavatsuste deklaratsioon, mille president ja esimene asepresident Timmermans saatsid samal päeval Euroopa Parlamendi presidendile ja nõukogu eesistujale.