Shedding light on TENs

Date: 27/06/1996

The Florence gathering was not a triumph for Trans-European Networks, partly because of a failure to agree on money to inject some impetus into the programme and partly because the city's airport is too small for real aeroplanes.

True, the runway had been extended by some 200 metres to ease the problem, but nevertheless many summiteers flew into Pisa and had to be bused the rest of the way.

Europe's leaders, however, were supposed to have privileged access to Florence and more than one delegation flew to the summit in two small planes rather than one big one to guarantee that they could land without trouble.

They need not have bothered: the landing lights blew a fuse on the big day and everyone was diverted to Pisa anyway, plunging the meticulous Italian arrival arrangements into chaos.

Apparently we have Dini's wife to thank for the choice of Italian summit venue. When arrangements were being made, she made it clear she would like a bit of

promotion for the city of her birth and the government agreed.