47. The representative of the European Communities welcomed the draft outline prepared by the Secretariat. Regional and bilateral agreements were important elements in this area and the Council should look as widely as it could to seek advice and guidance on what it might wish to do in the future. While underlining that the Council was merely gathering information at this stage, he said that his delegation would have preferred that national systems be included in the note, as this might help consideration of the matter; however, his delegation could accept the draft outline, which was a reasonable starting point.
