The first informal Council of Ministers of employment and social affairs of the Eu was held in Varese on 11/12 July. Two main issues were discussed: labour market policies and the campaign against clandestine work as part of the European Strategy for employment, and the clearer definition of the social dimension in the Lisbon Strategy. According to the Council, it is essential to curb clandestine labour, which represents in Europe a market percentage fluctuating between 7% and 19%, through incentives for the regularization of manpower and facilities for access to the services of social protection for employees. As regards the second issue on the agenda, the ministers agreed on the need to accelerate the Lisbon process, especially by introducing new measures to combat poverty and social exclusion.
