INSIDE the summit meeting, the British Prime Minister, Mr Major, was constructive in outlining his objections to key proposals for reform of the EU treaties, according to officials from several member states.
Outside he made his objections very clear. He was against greater majority voting; more power for the European Parliament; more power to EU institutions at the expense of national parliaments; an employment chapter in the EU treaty; merging the Western European Union with the EU, and European Court decisions on British labour law.
British opposition to such proposals is a major obstacle to the agreement of a radically reformed EU. But Mr Major characterised his government's position as wisely cautious rather than obstructionist. "`Look before you leap' is a far better watch word for the European Union than `leap before you look'," he said.
"The British are good Europeans," he insisted. "Our record in implementing European law, our dedication to a liberal trading policy and our leading role in European defence" were all proof of that, he maintained. But "I shall not hesitate to say no to ideas I believe are wrong for Europe as a whole and wrong for the UK".
At the council meeting he rejected as "offensive" the accusation made in Cork last Friday by the European Parliament President, Dr Klaus Hansch that Britain was not committed to Europe. Dr Hansch, he suggested "clearly did not understand what British policy was".
At his own press conference, Dr Hansch said the EU had not yet reached the stage where 14 member states were lined up against Britain. Other states apart from the British had major reservations on some issues. But if it did reach the stage where Britain was holding up the others, the 14 should go ahead without them.
Mr Major left the summit early, forgoing the dinner with the other 14 heads of governments. Some British media characterised this as a "snub" to his European colleagues. His officials said that it was merely a logistical problem: Mr Major had a large number of interviews to give before his party conference. Electoral survival comes before EU discussions.
Before the summit, British political figures had suggested that it was a waste of time, as there was no prospect of a quick dramatic move forward in the IGC negotiations. But Mr Major was at least gracious about the occasion. "I think there were mixed feelings about whether there was any practical purpose in having today, but the Irish had no choice but to proceed today."
He said the Irish presidency was working "extremely hard" to produce a draft treaty, and was doing this "pretty well . . . I have no criticisms at all to make of the Irish presidency. I think they are doing well and I am sure they will continue to do well".