A final rupture between Britain and France over British beef, which was expected to trigger legal action by London against Paris yesterday, has been averted yet again.
Another round of "technical" talks intended to address French safety concerns about British beef will begin between British, French and European Commission officials in Brussels later today. The latest talks come as the Commissioner for Food Safety, Mr David Byrne, told the French government yesterday that the European Commission would launch "the first stages" of legal proceedings on Tuesday if France had not agreed to lift the ban on British beef imports.
The French request for further technical talks was greeted with mild irritation in London as Mr Tony Blair's spokesman pointed out that last Friday's talks on Britain's Date-Based Export Scheme had already established the safety of British beef.
The spokesman said the effect of France's request was to reopen the debate on the scheme, but "we are not prepared to do that", he said.
The French government has said the conditions are not yet right to lift the ban and is prepared to face legal action, but after a meeting with the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, Mr Byrne's office said a diplomatic solution was clearly favoured over legal action.
"We believe the scientists have already laid down the foundations for a good solution," Mr Byrne's spokesman said. However, looking to Tuesday's meeting of European Commissioners in Strasbourg and the deadline for the lifting of the ban, the spokesman indicated legal action was a strong possibility: "If steps are not in place then, the first steps of a legal procedure against France for non-respect of the Community law will be taken."