08/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers reached full agreement on Wednesday 7 April on the main points of the draft directive on protecting animals used for scientific research. Rapporteur Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP, Germany) will present the results of the agreement to the EP agriculture committee on 12 April. In December 2009, the EP and the Council reached a compromise on the major political issues, but had to omit the comitology arrangements, with the planned coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty (see EUROPE 10037). The Council is expected to give its political agreement on this matter at the end of April or beginning of May. Then, in June or July, the Council will probably adopt its first reading position, before the text goes back to the EP for its second reading. (L.C./transl.rt)