Santer gives warning that Britain is putting strain on EU's tolerance

A NEW broadside against Britain from the President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, yesterday is set to raise temperatures today at the EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

Despite Mr Santer's description of Britain's obstructionism as "absurd" in an interview with the Observer, Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, will today continue blocking decisions ranging from money for the Bosnian elections to mandates for discussions with Canada, the Mercosur countries of South America, Syria, and Algeria.

The last two are particularly galling to Britain's fellow member states as the EU has been trying to raise its profile in the Middle East. EU talks scheduled for tomorrow with the Syrian Foreign Minister will now have to be downgraded to informal exchanges between the EU Presidency and the Syrians.

Although, as British diplomatic sources admitted, the Syrians will not be told anything different, the failure of the EU to be able to present a joint position will only reinforce perceptions in the region at a key time of the weakness of its common foreign and security policy.

Mr Santer again warned Britain that its strategy could leave the country isolated for years. "We are coming to the hour of truth," Mr Santer said.

"We are going as far as the limit of our possible tolerance. It is not just governments, it is public opinion, consumer organisations, pressure groups and lobbyists," he said and reiterated his contention that "it is Britain that has triggered this crisis".

But despite intense irritation at the British tactic, diplomats here are adamant that their governments will not be swayed by the obstruction. A senior French diplomatic source briefed journalists at length on the measures that will be taken to sidestep the problem in order to ensure that business continues, more or less, as normal.

Where declarations cannot be agreed today at the foreign ministers' meeting - it does all its business by unanimity - they can be issued in the name of the presidency, he says. If funding is refused to Bosnia, member states can and will contribute the money on a bilateral basis.

And, in talking informally to the Algerians about what should be in the EU negotiations mandate, he argues, the Commission can do much to advance the point at which negotiations will start. The same is true over the Canadian treaty, although it cannot actually be signed. His shrug and wry smile spoke volumes - Canada is a Commonwealth country, is this how Britain wants to treat its friends?

Crucially, the French are saying, the British have not understood the fundamental difference between their current strategy and that of the French empty chair policy in 1965 - the French then were trying to block decisions, now the British are trying to force a positive decision. To do so you need to win friends and influence people.

The ministers will also continue their preparation for the Florence summit on June 21st and agree to sign an association accord with Slovenia, Britain's one exception to its veto policy.

Meanwhile, personal representatives of foreign ministers on Friday completed the first phase of their discussions in the treaty changing Inter Governmental Conference. The IGC had a lengthy general debate on decision making on foreign and security policy.

The Italian Presidency will now present a progress report to the Irish Government, its own assessment of where things stand as it hands over the reins.

Reuter adds: The European Commission has drawn up a consumer guide on mad cow disease in which it pledges to keep the public fully informed about research.

"The primary objective of the Commission is to safeguard public health and to keep consumers properly informed," the guide says.

The guide, which was prepared by the Commission's food, veterinary, legal and consumer experts, gives only general advice pending further research. It says the public is rightly worried because contaminated animal tissues - the brain, spinal cord, retina and parts of the intestines - have in the past entered the food chain.