THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,

Whereas the EC-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation was founded in 1986 with a view to contributing to industrial cooperation between the Community and Japan;

Whereas the Council in its conclusions of March 1987 noted with interest the launching of the Centre's pilot phase and welcomed industry's contribution towards its implementation;

Whereas the Council on 26 November 1990 approved the conclusions of the Commission's communication on industrial policy in an open and competitive environment;

Whereas the Commission was called on to continue its industrial policy work also bearing in mind:

• the evolution of the economic situation and of the strategies of the major non-EEC industrialized countries and of the newly-industrialized countries,

• the need for an appropriate use of the instruments available to the Community in order to strengthen the technological capabilities and the competitiveness of the European industrial system;

Whereas the work of the EC-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation contributes to the Community's work in the field of industrial policy;

Whereas the Centre is co-financed by the general budget of the European Communities, MITI and contributions from industry of both Parties;

Whereas the Centre, so far run as a pilot project, has proved successful by providing mainly management training programmes for a growing number of business managers of Community undertakings, as well as information on the Japanese business environment;

Whereas the Centre's supervisory board has concluded that the Centre's activities are promising, meriting strong backing by both major sponsors, the Commission and MITI, and that it should be consolidated;

Whereas, therefore, this proposed consolidation should be confirmed and the Centre should be established as an EC-Japan common venture;

Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this Decision, powers other than those of Article 235,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: