The proposal is all the stranger because not quite two months before it was made, the rules for purchasing corn under the intervention regime were changed, which suggests that the European Commission is flailing around without any particular ideas.

Although the evacuation of the Gaza Strip and the seeking of a two-state solution appear to have injected some impetus into the peace process, which has dragged on for decades, its success will largely be dependent on the economic success of the new structure, and that is where Europe will, no doubt, have to help out.

The Legal Affairs Committee, having had a look at it last week, concluded that the same objection concerning the legal basis applies because there is still an attempt, under Article 37, to bring together agricultural and synthetic ethyl alcohol.

Just this week, in a committee of which I am a member, I nudged my colleague from the Reform Party and told him: ``See how bored the Liberal members seem to be today with the committee on agriculture'' (1645) Indeed, they seemed to be bored to death.

Following the setting up of six task forces for research and industry a few days ago (see IP 95/540), Mrs Edith Cresson, responsible for research, education and training, and Mr Martin Bangemann, responsible for industry, telecommunications and information technologies, will meet the people concerned with the development of "the car of the future" - vehicle manufacturers, including several company directors, as well as original equipment manufacturers, producers of gas and electricity, electronics manufacturers and in particular users - during a lunch to be given on Wednesday 14 June in Strasbourg.

The Chair: Mr. Minister, thank you very much to you and your officials for having kicked off our round of hearings on Bill C-11.