The Objectives of the OMEX II-I Project were first to improve the outputs from OMEX I Project (mainly focused on the Goban Spur, NW Gulf of Biscay), and secondly to prepare the OMEX II-II Project (in the Iberian Margin area).  Since it was a synthesis and preparatory period, this phase is sometimes named the "Bridging Phase".  This project was partly supported by the European Union within the MArine Science and Technology programme (Contract MAS3-CT96-0056) and ran from June 1996 to May 1997.