Communities (CEC) reported that a proposal had been submitted to the Council of Ministers of the Communities for the early ratification of the Convention by EEC and by its 12 member States. 81. Many speakers indicated that, although their Governments were determined to ratify the Convention, preparatory steps were still necessary. They reported on the progress made in that direction: the provisions of the Convention were being analysed and compared with national legislation; legislation of other countries was being studied as a source of inspiration and guidance; and amendments to existing or new legislation, either of a comprehensive nature or covering specific matters, were being drafted. 82. Several speakers reported that in recent years, particularly while the Convention was being drafted, new legislation had been adopted in their countries that satisfied to a large extent the requirements of the Convention. One observer stated that he had reservations about applying the Convention on a provisional basis, as to do so would create tentative rights and obligations. 83. Other speakers indicated that, in some specific matters, domestic law had been brought into conformity with the Convention and that, to that extent, the Convention was being applied prior to its entry into force. 84. One representative observed that the ratification of an international instrument was a necessarily slow process. Referring to the time that it had taken previous drug control treaties to enter into force, he considered that the progress made towards the application of the 1988 Convention was most encouraging, taking into account the many innovative aspects of the Convention. 85. Several speakers stressed that regional groups or entities, such as the Group of Nordic Countries, the Commonwealth of Nations, EEC, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe and the Council of Arab Ministers of the Interior, constituted particularly well-suited frameworks for monitoring the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the ratification and implementation of an international convention, specifically the 1988 Convention, and the progress made by various countries in bringing their domestic laws into conformity with the Convention. The focus is on the legal and procedural aspects of the Convention's entry into force, rather than its specific content or impact on a particular sector or industry.

**Category**
International trade, Health