'Non' to Rodgers' summit meeting
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
BRITISH plans for a transport summit meeting of the nine EEC transport ministers have now definitely collapsed following a French snub.
The meeting was scheduled to take place in London next week, and was to have been an unofficial gathering of minis ters freed from the rules governing meetings in Brussels.
Invitations to the meeting went out from British Transport Minister William Rodgers on January 6, but the French said that they could see tittle point in meeting on unofficial lines, and refused to attend.
Following the French 'non', West Germany said that they saw little point in attending a meeting without the French. France's decision was made on the personal authority of premier Raymonde Barre.
The Germans suggested that Britain's transport minister meet the French in Bonn this week when Mr Rodgers is in Germany for discussions but it is understood that no meeting with the French has taken place.
The abortive meeting was to have discussed the road versus rail debate and State transport subsidies as well as the controversial harmonisation regulations on safety and the environment.
Britain believes that highlevel unofficial talks between the EEC ministers are needed to find agreement on the major issues to avoid the bickering that has dogged many of the Brussels meetings.
Mr Rodgers, who suggested the meeting, is thought to be upset at the French Snub which follows criticism by Mr Rodgers of time wasting at the European Council of transport ministers.
In his inaugural address to the Council, of which he is now president, Mr Rodgers attacked the amount of detailed consideration given to matters by the Council, and urged it to devote more time to broader matters of policy.