8th Ministerial Council: opening the meeting

The 141st meeting of the ESA Council, and the 8th at Ministerial Level, took place on 11-12 May 1999 at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels. Belgium hosted the meeting at the invitation of Mr Yvan Ylieff, Belgium's Minister for Science Policy, and Chairman of the previous Council Meeting at Ministerial Level. During the opening session, Mr Ylieff handed over the chair to Lord David Sainsbury, the UK Minister responsible for space. The meeting is covered in detail in ESA Bulletin no. 98, June 1999. Pictured here (from left) during the meeting's opening session [Image Date: 11-05-99] [99.05.002-021]