THE President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, yesterday attacked Britain's blocking tactics over beef, at the same time as a dispute arose over a new compensation package.
Mr Santer described the British Prime Minister's non co operation policy as unjustified hostage taking. Mr John Major's tough tactics really began to bite yesterday when British ministers blocked 12 decisions in Brussels.
Yesterday's outburst from Mr Santer came at the weekly private meeting of the Brussels Commissioners, and the Commission spokesman made it clear afterwards that legal action against Britain had not been ruled out.
Meanwhile, controversy broke out after the Commission approved plans to pay Britain's beef farmers an extra £13 million to offset the impact of the BSE crisis. But French beef producers are to get far more, £23.2 million, and the Germans are to receive £15.4 million.
The proposal, which requires the backing of EU agriculture ministers, is part of a £52 million package of income support for all EU member states to compensate for falling prices owing to lost consumer confidence in beef throughout the EU.
A Commission spokesman explained that the figures were worked out on the basis of cattle headage, of which France has the most.
But some Tories dismissed the cash for Britain as "a tiny drop in the ocean".
Mr Santer's statement was agreed by all Commissioners after a detailed debate on Britain's non co operation activities at yesterday's meetings on EU internal market and development ministers.
The hard hitting declaration said: "The Commission deplores the fact that Council dossiers, which are not at all linked to BSE - have been taken hostage.
"This attitude is not appropriate in a community based on the rule of law.
"It jeopardises the functioning, of the institutions and blocks progress on integration at a time when our main priority should be to establish confidence on the eve of an important meeting, the Florence European summit.
"The President also stressed that this attitude will certainly be counter productive vis a vis those who are displaying such an attitude."
The move will surprise Mr Major, coming after his personal assurances in a telephone call to Mr Santer after the announcement in the Commons of the non co operation policy, that Brussels' was not the target of his wrath.
The Commission President - made it clear yesterday that it was up to the British government to put in place the necessary anti BSE measures which will restore public confidence in beef.
"The main responsibility rests with the UK authorities, which must make proposals, apply them, and monitor them effectively in order to eradicate BSE.
"These measures are the only way in which we can reestablish consumer confidence and stabilise the markets."