1.
SV PAN GV RAF sign at Northolt airfield near London
0.05

2.
SV West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher off plane, greeted by waiting officials (2 shots)
0.18

3.
GV West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt off plane, greeted by waiting officials
0.30

4.
GV/SV French plane arrives, President Francois Mitterrand down steps and greeted (2 shots)
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5.
GV Buckingham Palace
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6.
SV INTERIOR Queen Elizabeth with Schmidt and Mitterrand
0.57

7.
CU Queen, ZOOM OUT Ministers, members of Royal Family, officials
1.14

8.
SCU Prince and Princess of Wales, Eire Prime Minister Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Duke of Edinburgh PAN Queen and Mitterrand
1.38

9.
SCU Thatcher with officials, meeting Luxembourg Foreign Minister Miss Collette Flesch
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10.
SV ZOOM IN CU Thatcher and Flesch talking
2.02

11.
GV INTERIOR Delegates around conference table, Thatcher and Lord Carrington
2.14

12.
GV Delegates around table, cameramen taking pictures
2.27




Initials BB





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: Ministers from the European Economic Community (EEC) arrived in the United Kingdom on Thursday (26 November) for the start of an important two-day summit.They form the European Council, meeting three times a year as the highest decision-taking body within the economic partnership.On their agenda was the overall EEC budget, reform of the common agricultural policy and other regional policies.They were also due to discuss east-west relations, disarmament prospects and the Middle East situation.

SYNOPSIS: Europe's figureheads arrived at RAF Northolt on the outskirts of London.Among the first was West Germany' Foreign Minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher.One of his aims at the summit was the lowering of annual contributions from his country.

Then came West Germany's Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, fresh from his series of meetings with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in Bonn, over the question of nuclear arms in Europe.

Arriving in his personnel plane was French President Francois Mitterrand, ready to argue against any contribution cuts because of the effect it could have on his country's subsidised farmers.

From Northolt the delegations went to Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal Family.

It was one of the biggest gatherings of VIP's seen in the Palace for a number of years and those who had not met before took this opportunity to get to know something of each other.

Among them were the Prince and Princess of Wales.Attending his first summit was Eire Prime Minister Garrett Fitzgerald, finding time here for a few words with Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.The Queen's husband Prince Philip was also present as photographers and camera crews recorded the occasion.

Mrs.Thatcher was not the only woman politician attending the summit.Also hoping to make a contribution was the Foreign Minister of tiny Luxembourg, Miss Colette Flesch.

With the formal introductions and lunch over -- the delegations made their way in the afternoon to Lancaster House.This is a 19th century building near Buckingham Palace where the foundations were laid for Zimbabwe's independence in 1979 after a long series of talks co-ordinated by Britain's Lord Carrington.

As the EEC's Commission President Lord Carrington will play a significant role as ministers get down to tough negotiations which will help shape the Community's immediate future.