AS THE EU Commission last night agreed to put up to £520 million into emergency income support for beef producers, the Union's standing veterinary committee adjourned its discussions of the British export ban until Monday. Diplomatic sources were confident, however, that the reconvened meeting would back Commission proposals to lift the ban on tallow, gelatin and semen.
On the proposal of the Farm Commissioner, Mr FranzFischler, the Commission agreed to allow Mr Fischler to work with the Council of Agriculture Ministers, also meeting on Monday, on the precise shape of a package of support for producers.
A Commission spokesman said reported proposals for an increase per head of suckler payments of £24 and of the special beef premium of £20 were on the table, but that the Commissioner was willing to listen to alternative proposals as long as the cost did not exceed £520 million.
Such a package would be worth an estimated £40 million to Ireland, but the Commissioner yesterday raised the possibility that even more could go to worst affected farmers.
Irish farmers have criticised the proposal - a simple across the board increase to all recipients of premiums, irrespective of losses - as inadequately targeted at those who lost the most in terms of price reductions.
The Commissioner acknowledged the problems at a press conference. "There is room for negotiation," he said. "Those countries which suffered the biggest drop in prices should perhaps be given more than those who suffered a lesser price cut." But he warned his priority was an effective scheme that could result in quick payments to farmers, and that he was concerned at the administrative difficulties involved in a more targeted arrangement.
Any compromise will have to be approved by ministers and the European Parliament.
Sources at the meeting of the standing veterinary committee, which brings together chief veterinary officers from the member states, say that only three countries, Germany, Austria Greece, expressed total opposition to a partial lifting of the dish export ban, despite a recommendation from the Commission and WHO scientists.
Reservations were also pressed by the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, and the Commission official chairing the meeting is understood to believe their concerns can be allayed by Monday, allowing the partial lifting to go through on a qualified majority vote.
Britain's chief veterinary officer, Mr Keith Meldrum, emerged from the meeting expressing optimism about the chances of agreement.
"The atmosphere in there very good. It was a good and a good exchange of views. I am optimistic that we can progress on Monday. There simply was not enough time today."
Mr Meldrum said even the Germans - the most opponents of any the ban - had been "constructive".
"The member states accept the importance of the scientific evidence and that has got to reflected in what we agree."
Mr Meldrum said the British government was close to presenting its targeted slaughter programme, to cull up 42,000 cattle as part of its confidence restoring measures.
The committee is understood also to have spent considerable time discussing reports of inspectors who visited British meat factories, with some reservations still being expressed about controls.
In London last night, the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, insisted a "considerable step forward" had been made. "As long as there is evidence that negotiation and dialogue produce results, that is something we should be prepared to endorse", he said.
