19/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - Speaking at the end of the Environment Council, Stavros Dimas welcomed the formal adoption of REACH, as well as the political agreement concluded on Monday on the draft framework directive for marine protection which, while he regretted the fact that the Council had not been more ambitious, he described as, “a major step towards a better protection of our oceans and seas through the adoption of the Marine Strategy Directive”. (ol)