The ESO Council Meeting on 4 December 2012

The ESO Council at its meeting at ESO's Headquarters in Garching, Germany on 4 December 2012. At this meeting the start of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) programme received full approval, following the confirmation of three previously ad referendum votes (meaning that these votes were subject to confirmation by the authorities of those Member States), and one additional vote in favour, by the ESO Member State representatives. In the foreground on the left is the ESO Director General, Tim de Zeeuw and to the right the President of Council, Xavier Barcons.