LUXEMBOURG: BRITAIN SCORES VICTORY IN BATTLE TO OVERTURN BEEF BAN AS EUROPEAN UNION FARM MINISTERS SET STAGE FOR PARTIAL LIFTING OF BAN ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS

Record ID: 566054

  • Title: LUXEMBOURG: BRITAIN SCORES VICTORY IN BATTLE TO OVERTURN BEEF BAN AS EUROPEAN UNION FARM MINISTERS SET STAGE FOR PARTIAL LIFTING OF BAN ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS
  • Date: 4th June 1996
  • Summary: LUXEMBOURG (JUNE 4, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV/SLV EU FARM COMMISSIONER AND AUSTRIAN AGRICULTURE MINISTER FRANZ FISCHLER ARRIVING FOR MEETINGS (2 SHOTS) 0.29 2. SV/SCU DUTCH AGRICULTURE MINISTER JOZIAF VAN AARTEN ARRIVING SAYING I AM DISAPPOINTED THERE WAS NO DECISION FROM THE COUNCIL COUNCIL BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 0.48 3. SV CAMERAMAN AND SECURITY (2 SHOTS) 0.56 4. SV BRITISH HOME SECRETARY (MINISTER) MICHAEL HOWARD ARRIVING AND SAYING IT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE STEPS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. IT WON'T CHANGE MY ATTITUDE TODAY. I HAVE COME HERE TO IMPLEMENT BRITAIN'S POLICY OF NON-COOPERATION (ENGLISH) 0.24 5. SV CUTAWAY TO SECURITY 1.30 6. SV/SCU/SLV BRITISH AGRICULTURE MINISTER DOUGLAS HOGG SAYING WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS. FOREIGN SECRETARY AND I GO ON A TOUR AND SEEK TO PERSUADE PEOPLE OF THE NEED TO SIGN UP TO THE FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT AND A STEP-BY-STEP RELAXATION (OF THE BAN) (ENGLISH) 2.18 7. SV MEETING ROOM (2 SHOTS) 2.27 8. SV MICHAEL HOWARD MEETING OTHER MINISTERS (3 SHOTS) 2.44 9. SLV MINISTERS SITTING DOWN TO START MEETING 2.46 10. SV FISCHLER AFTER MEETING SAYING I THINK THE PROCEDURE IS CLEAR, I WILL PRESENT THE PROPOSAL DECIDED HERE TO THE COMMISSION AND I THINK WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT IN THE COMMISSION (ENGLISH) 3.10 11. SV CAMERAMEN 3.12 12. SV FISCHLER SAYING I THINK FOR EVERYBODY IT IS CLEAR THAT SUCH PROCEDURES (BRITAIN'S NON-COOPERATION) IS NOT VERY HELPFUL (ENGLISH) 3.22 13. SV FISCHLER SPEAKING TO MEDIA 3.27 14. SV FISCHLER, COMMENTING ON DECISION MADE BY MINISTERS TO RELAX THE BAN, SAYING I WOULD SAY THE DIRECTION IS RIGHT BUT WE NEED A LITTLE MORE SPEED (FOR THE LIFTING OF THE BAN) (ENGLISH) 3.43 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 19th June 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LUXEMBOURG
  • City:
  • Country: Luxembourg
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2HNV4A6FY9R562VTO0C0QIPX
  • Story Text: INTRO: Britain continued blocking European Union business on Tuesday, saying much more progress had to be made towards lifting a worldwide ban on British beef exports.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------- Britain launched a second stage of its controversial "beef war" on Tuesday (June 4) after securing a partial victory that leaves the European Commission free to ease a ban on some beef derivatives.

    British ministers again vowed to block European Union business, demanding more progress towards lifting a worldwide ban on British beef exports, imposed because of fears about "mad cow disease" or BSE.

    Farm ministers voted by nine to six in favour of a Commission proposal to ease the ban to allow sales of gelatine, tallow and bull semen late on Monday night.

    The opposition from Germany, Austria, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg prevented a ministerial decision.

    But under the EU's complex voting rules, this was short of a simple majority of countries -- eight -- needed to reject the proposal, which was returned to the Commission for a decision.

    EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler said the Commissionwould probably act on Wednesday.

    "It's a disappointment that there was no decision from the (Farm) Council," said Dutch Farm Minister Jozias Van Aartsen.

    British Home Secretary Michael Howard said it was a "step in the right direction," but added much more progress had to be made and that he was going to block a raft of proposals at a meeting of the bloc's justice and home affairs ministers in Luxembourg.

    Britain retaliated against the worldwide ban by using its power of veto and blocking EU business. The government said it would continue to do so until the ban was totally lifted.

    British Agriculture Minister Douglas Hogg said the latest development was good news. He was preparing himself for a tour of those EUropean countries which oppose the lifting of the ban. "The foreign minister and I are going on a tour," he said, "to persuade people of the need (..) for a step by step relaxation of the ban." Fischler said exports would not be allowed until British gelatine and tallow producers had satisfied the Commission that they were respecting strict new production rules and had been issued licences by the British government.

    "Tomorrow I will submit a proposal for the Commission to take a decision and it will in all likelihood decide tomorrow," Fischler told a news conference.


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