Tomorrow's decision by the EU's Scientific Steering Committee could mean a ceasefire in the "mad cow war" between France and Britain. If the committee, which begins meeting today, upholds the lifting of the embargo on British beef, London has made it clear it will immediately take legal action against Paris through the EU Commission. The procedure could take months, during which tempers might cool on both sides. But with scientists divided as to the safety of British beef, it could be difficult for the Commission to rule against Paris.
If the committee agrees to take account of French doubts, an intermediate solution - for example the slaughter of entire herds when a case of of BSE in cows is detected - might be reached.
In the meantime, neither a telephone conversation between the British and French Prime Ministers late on Tuesday nor an appeal by the French Agriculture Minister, Mr Jean Glavany, on the BBC have moved the dispute any closer to settlement. Mr Glavany called on both sides to calm down. "France does not want this crisis," he said. "France does not benefit from this crisis, and would like to find a way out."
But Mr Glavany's earlier cancellation of a scheduled weekend meeting with his British counterpart, Mr Nick Brown, was seen as a setback. The French Minister said he had to accompany the Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, to Martinique and Guadeloupe, where banana producers are demonstrating to demand higher subsidies.
While condemning French farmers who blocked the Channel Tunnel with barricades and tractors, Mr Glavany implied that they had been provoked.
