PUTTING employment first was one of the Irish presidency's chief priorities. This has been achieved with many other member-states looking to Ireland for a lead.
The ground has now been readied for an employment chapter in the next treaty, although the Dublin Declaration on Employment is not necessarily a prelude to any such agreement.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, reassured a reluctant British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, of this. It was only with such assurances that the British would sign the declaration.
All member-states have agreed ways to develop the Essen process and ensure measures to deal with unemployment. The report adopted at this weekend's summit will lead to greater emphasis on equal opportunities.
The priority for European employment is identified as the need for a continued macroeconomic strategy for economic growth.
The change in the title "stability pact" to the "stability and growth pact" reflects this.
In several member-states, particularly France, much of the population believe that the financial disciplines imposed by the single currency are anti-work.
The authorities are keen to dispel this notion.
The heads of state have also agreed to modernise the markets for goods and services and to exploit new sources of employment.
There will also be a renewed focus on labour market efficiencies and on investing in human resources.
Another priority is to make tax and social welfare systems more employment-friendly.
The final priority listed in the presidency conclusions is to strengthen the interplay between macroeconomic and structural policies in all multi-annual employment programmes.
However, while these measures may help to increase employment, the fine detail has yet to be worked out.
The Commission has been asked to develop new ways of measuring employment. Ireland's Labour Force Survey may be the sort of measure which the Council has in mind here.
The main item for the Amsterdam summit in June will be to set out an action plan and timetable covering "all necessary measures to ensure the potential benefit of the internal market is achieved before January 1st, 1999.
The Council also noted there was further work to be done on the development of tax systems.
But no specific targets have been set out in this area, with the Council merely welcoming the Commission's intention to continue discussion in a tax policy group.