Holbrooke said the Obama administration would establish benchmarks to measure progress once the aid package is approved.

VOA: standard.2009.05.12

The target pledges by the world's top-two carbon emitters are seen as hopeful signs for progress at Copenhagen, although a final package for global greenhouse gas reduction remains in doubt.

VOA: standard.2009.11.26

Last week, Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, slammed Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, for the slow progress on the education package.

CNN: Bush impatient with Congress on education bill

Both Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said some progress had been made but an overall package had still not been agreed.

BBC: No agreement on policing budget

Earlier this month, Ms Villiers said an economic package aimed at helping business in Northern Ireland may be withdrawn if the executive failed to make progress on a shared future.

BBC: Theresa Villiers