There was palpable relief yesterday after the dispute between Britain and its EU partners over beef exports was settled at the European Council in Florence. Although the formula is a compromise, it preserves the scientific validity and independence of the Commission in assessing the public health issues involved. Most of the retreat has been done by Britain, which has had to install a rigorous regime to eradicate the BSE disease in order to ensure that it cannot be passed on to humans. It was the recent tabling of a comprehensive eradication programme by the British government that allowed the compromise to be reached not the pressure applied by the British through their policy of non co operation with EU business.
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, said repeatedly that he was delighted to announce an end to non co operation. It has left bitter feelings in the Commission and among the other, member states. Great care will have to be taken that it, does not happen again, perhaps, as the Belgian prime minister, Mr Dehaene, suggested yesterday, by a treaty change. His suggestion is a reminder that this episode does not by any means signify an end to the awkward British relationship with the rest of the EU. While it is a relief that the "serial vetoing" of Union business is to cease - especially for the incoming Irish presidency - Britain's strictly minimalist approach to the Inter Governmental Conference (IGC) may be nearly as disruptive in coming months.
This raises the question of whether the British policy of non co operation worked in its chosen objective of securing the deal agreed yesterday, or whether, on the contrary, it has rebounded to the detriment of Britain's interests and influence.
Mr Rifkind said last year that he would be prepared to sacrifice some British influence within the EU to protect its interests outside it. If this is an example of the strategy at work it is a poor one by any standards. Britain has lost influence, friends and allies in pursuit of a dubious objective, which could have been achieved by a much more effective approach to eliminating the disease and a greater willingness to cooperate with its partners in doing so. Mr Rifkind paid deserved tribute to the Italian presidency for its work in brokering this compromise; but he ought to give careful thought to the loss of a potential ally because of the threat to disrupt the Florence Council.
This whole episode has dealt a severe blow not only to British agriculture a self inflicted wound - but to that of other member states, where consumer demand for beef has collapsed. In Italy, for example, the transfer of demand from beef to white meats has added one percentage point to the consumer price index just at a time when the government is attempting to qualify anew for the single currency. In Ireland, beef farmers have seen prices come down sharply because of reduced demand at home and abroad. These effects will endure until consumer confidence is restored but the package agreed yesterday could ensure this in time.