Unpleasant little war ends at price of British dignity

"OUR policy of non co operation ceases as from now." The words of the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, at lunch time yesterday brought an end to an unpleasant little war that has paralysed decision making in the EU for four weeks.

Peace had been restored at the price, however, of British dignity. A formula praised by Mr Rifkind as representing two very significant gains for Britain in the last two days was being dismissed by Commission and Italian presidency sources as a transparently "face saving" prescription for the British.

Britain has won a pledge from its partners that in future all decisions on the beef ban will be based "only and exclusively" on scientific criteria and that the judgment of the Commission will be made "in accordance with existing procedures".

While the commitment is a significant political step, member states have insisted all along that their various positions, often contradictory, have always been based on science.

The reference to "existing procedures", however, ensures that the decision will not be removed altogether from the political realm. Commission proposals have to go to the Union's Standing Veterinary Committee a meeting of the member states chief veterinary officers.

In the past the committee's handling of decisions has closely mirrored that of ministers.

Britain also won a "concession" on exports to third countries. The presidency will invite countries which wish to import British beef to apply individually to the Commission, which will consider each case on its merits.

A "delighted" Mr Rifkind presented the formula as a breakthrough. British sources were last night claiming this was a complete climbdown by the Commission in the face of "certain defeat" in the Court of Justice.

Commission sources were saying off the record, and Italian ministers on the record, that there could be no question of exporting to third countries meat That could not be traded within Europe. They were sure, they that the scientists would come to such a conclusion.

The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said he thought that such exports were most unlikely.

He refused to be drawn on the suggestion that the deal was an empty formula, arguing simply that it was a "compromise that has broken the deadlock".

But even that compromise early did not run. The text agreed between the British Prime Minister, Mr Major, the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Roman Prodi, and the Commission President, Mr Jacques Santer, over breakfast was too positive for German and French tastes.

Officials substituted the word "welcomes" for "approves" in a reference to the framework proposal, and incorporated "according to existing procedures" in the reference to the Commission.

Then the French lobbed in a demand for an extra £160 million compensation payments for EU farmers, and the deal was done.

The £160 million is in addition to some £520 million earmarked by the Commission but in dispute at the Farm Council, which meets again on the matter on Monday.

The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, sought at the last meeting to increase the Commission figure to £800 million.

Some of the cash will be distributed in the form of higher premium payments for cattle and some in the form of national packages. It is likely to mean an extra £10 million approximately for Irish farmers on top of the £58 million promised in the original package.

In Florence last night the president of the IFA, Mr John Donnelly, called on the Minister to censure that the extra cash is funnelled to the hardest hit winter finishers. He said that, while the total compensation package for Ireland was inadequate, the decision was a significant improvement if paid to those in most need.

The Commission's framework proposal is that, after new measures have been set up and verified, the export ban will be lifted in four stages: first on embryos then on animals from certified BSE free herds next on new born calves and finally on older animals.