The Margin is pleased to report on a unique case of EU co-operation - Irish-made "Spanish Horses" employed by Belgian police to keep EU farmers at bay.

The Belgian police were manning Irish custom-made riot barriers recently as they faced about 30,000 farmers from across the EU, as the European Commission's Farm Council met to discuss Agenda 2000 proposals.

Mr Terry Hobdell, managing director of Irish Fencing, recognised his Chevaux de Frise, literally border horses but dubbed Spanish Horses in English, on the front page of The Irish Times, and quickly realised the vital role they played in preventing the battle lines being broken.

The lethal-looking barriers were made in Ballyfermot, Dublin, with razor wire and barbed wire but are a Belgian speciality, Mr Hobdell said.

A founder member of the small firms group, ISME, who resigned his executive position in November, he said the contract was an example of cross-Union co-operation.

The protesters, among them 106 Irish Farmers Association (IFA) members, may disagree.