The Common Position indicates a strong convergence of the position of Council with respect to both the European Parliament and the Commission. It takes into account a large proportion of the amendments made by the European Parliament and adopted by the Commission in its modified proposal. The Commission therefore endorses the Common Position, within the limits indicated above on the ethical issue, and considers that it represents a good basis on which to commence the second reading, and that any remaining issues can be quickly resolved. The Commission thus hopes that it will be possible to make rapid progress in the decision-making process, both of the Framework programme and for the specific programmes, with the aim of ensuring an adoption of the Framework programmes by mid-2002, as agreed at the European Council in Stockholm. This would allow for effective implementation of the programmes on time.�