The European Council has dedicated an important part of the meeting to an in-depth study of the European Community's current situation. The European Council congratulated the economic measures taken by the governments of several Member States. In the area of monetary policy, an intensified dialogue with the United States of America is desired, especially in view of arriving at a consensus regarding monetary policy and interest rates. The high and increasing unemployment levels, specially among the young, are a cause of great worry to the European Council. It has been agreed that the fight against this scourge should be led not only by the Member States but also at Community level. The Council has also spoken of the accession of Spain, North-South relations, of the European passport, of the Middle East, of Lebanon, of Afghanistan and of Poland.