It was perhaps no harm that the beef issue so preoccupied the heads of state and government when they met in Turin yesterday to inaugurate the InterGovernmental Conference which will examine how the European Union should be governed as it enlarges.
The Union has to struggle for relevance and acceptability among citizens of the member states who have become disillusioned over its lack of accountability, bureaucratic mores and distance from their concerns. Here is an issue that directly involves the health of families throughout the Union. Although the problem is concentrated overwhelmingly in the United Kingdom, its ramifications spread throughout the EU, as was acknowledged yesterday by Mr Major's colleagues. He was suitably grateful for their solidarity. The beef issue has been a case study of the UK's - wider identity crisis in relation to Europe - here was important evidence for use against the Euro sceptics.
Another matter of the most direct concern to European citizens - employment, provoked a debate on how the EU should respond. Again, in general terms, this is precisely as it should be. Governments, including supranational ones, must justify themselves by their capacity to respond to conditions of everyday life. People readily understand that economic life has been thoroughly internationalised and: they expect action to be taken at that level to alleviate the structural and cyclical unemployment that afflicts - so many throughout the Union.
It remains to be seen whether a social chapter, including employment, can be included by consensus: in the new treaty on which discussion began formally yesterday. There may be a case for holding a special European Council on it during the Irish presidency, in addition to the Dublin Council next December. The basket of social issues and matters of direct concern to the individual, such as citizenship, deserve to be given the highest priority if the EU is to retain its popular appeal.
In Turin a mandate was adopted for the negotiations, which provides guidelines rather than strictly constraining conditions. One of most notable features is the call to examine whether a multi speed approach can be agreed that would allow some states to move ahead faster than others in specified areas, but without damaging the EU's single institutional framework. Given the polarised disagreements between Britain and Germany, this will be a very difficult task; but much will depend on where the French decide to turn. Mr Chirac's initiative on social affairs would seem to bring him even closer to the Germans, but on decision making and the optimum balance between the EU institutions, he is closer to Britain.
The Government faces the onerous task of chairing the IGC at what may be its most defining moments. It has spelled out this week the general approach it will bring to the negotiations in its White Paper on Foreign Policy. One of the prime Irish interests is to avoid the emergence of an exclusive hard core of states that would push ahead faster than poorer states or those with less political capacity. Equally tricky from the Irish point of view will be the debate on making the Common Foreign and Security Policy more coherent and the discussion on a common defence policy which might in time become a common defence".