Cooperation between employment services and guidance centres in the education field must be reinforced, so that the latter can provide advice directly relevant to the labour market.

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of joint control of the General Healthcare Group Ltd (“GHG”), an independent healthcare provider in the UK, by Apax Partners Holdings Ltd (“APHL”), a private equity investment advisor, and Network Healthcare Holdings Limited (“Netcare”), a South African healthcare provider, by way of a modification of the voting rights in GHG’s holding company.

The Commission's proposals also effectively endorse the Council's decisions of 2003 to reform the Common Agriculture Policy and to set agriculture spending for market measures and direct payments until 2013 in accordance with the decision taken at the European Council (Brussels, October 2002).

With regard to Croatia, the Council: - endorsed the Political Committee's opinion, reaffirming the terms of the decision of principle which the Council took at its meeting on 10 April regarding the opening of negotiations for the conclusion of the trade and cooperation agreement between the European Community and Croatia, particularly as it reserves the option of taking account at all times of the attitude of Croatia in implementing the United Nations Resolutions and the peace process; - agreed that this decision will be implemented according to the assessment made by the Council at its next meeting of developments in the situation on t ...[+++]he ground; - agreed in principle to the Regulation concerning Croatia's inclusion in the PHARE programme, to be formally adopted at a future meeting after legal/linguistic finalization of the text.

- Algeria The Council took note of the understanding reached between Algeria and the IMF on a comprehensive adjustment and reform programme to be supported by a stand-by arrangement.

It instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to resume the examination of this dossier at the beginning of 1994 with a view to an early decision by the Council.