BRITAIN yesterday expressed cautious optimism that a deal on solving the "mad cow" crisis may be struck with other EU countries at this weekend's summit in Florence.
The Prime Minister, Mr John Major, said in a speech on Europe, in London. "I don't know if we will be able to resolve this dispute at Florence".
But he stressed. "We are now getting back to a more rational discussion, and common sense suggests that rational discussion will draw us all towards a practical solution."
In Strasbourg, the European Commission President, Mr Jacques Santer, warned Britain that it must end its obstruction of EU business as a condition for any solution to the "mad cow" crisis at the Florence meeting tomorrow and Saturday.
The Foreign Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, however, speaking in London, said the framework agreement could be approved "simultaneously" in Florence while Britain announced an end to its blocking tactics.
Mr Major sounded a defiant note to the large Euro sceptic wing of the Tory party in his speech. He said it was "nonsense to suggest the only choice is to accept Europe as it is offered, or negotiate an exit".
Mr Major said that "often, Britain is the grit in the European oyster" and warned that there may be "bumpy times ahead".
He said. "Our power of veto means we cannot be forced where we do not want to go. So of course Britain will stay in Europe. Economic reality and self interest demand that we do.
"The future of Europe is worth fighting for. We shall be at the heart of that debate, arguing for an open, not a protectionist, Europe, arguing for a Europe of nations.
"It has never been Britain's way to cut and run. There is a big prize to win for us and for Europe."
Earlier, Mr Rifkind had welcomed the European Commission's latest proposals to resolve the beef crisis, telling BBC Radio that they were "very similar to the ones we have suggested". But the text of the Commission's framework agreement omits one British demand a lifting of the ban on beef exports to third countries outside the EU as one of the stages.
Mr Santer ruled this out, saying it would be unethical.
Mr Rifkind said. "It's not unreasonable to say that three weeks ago no one would have predicted that we would have the prospect of a framework strategy on the phased lifting on the ban on British beef.
"It represents a very substantial achievement. We hope it will be the prelude to success in Florence," he added.
The government now faces serious opposition both from British farmers and in the House of Commons, which must give its approval before it can go ahead.
A farmers' spokesmen launched an immediate attack on the government's decision to accept EU demands to extend a selective cull of British cattle.
"It would appear that we're going to have to cull a very large number of perfectly healthy animals, to capture a very small number of animals that may develop BSE in the future," said Mr Tony Pexton of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales (NFU), representing more than 100,000 farmers.
The NFU said it would lobby Conservative MPs to vote against the selective cull.
"We have made our views known to MPs in as forceful terms as we can," the organisation's head of public affairs, Mr Trevor Hayes, said.