Chaos ensues when nature interrupts political process

Date: 19/10/1995

Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock may be urged to put his concerns about airline deregulation and cutting fares on the backburner while he finds out what stops aircraft flying between Brussels and Strasbourg just because of a bit of fog.

There was chaos last week when about 30 top Commission officials, including Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan, Secretary-General David Williamson and press chief Klaus van der Pas turned up at Zaventem for a flight to Strasbourg for a crucial Commission meeting on, amongst other things, French nuclear testing.

Horror of horrors, the plane was cancelled and for a moment there was talk of having to call off the gathering.

This politically-incorrect notion was quickly scotched and the stranded Eurocrats dashed back to the Breydel and scrambled a bunch of relaxing chauffeurs. A fleet of pool cars, including a Renault Espace people-carrier, was gunned into life and the high-speed convoy hit the motorway.

The drivers kept spirits up by singing “You take the A-grade and I'll take the B-grade and I'll be in Strasbourg afore ye” at the tops of their voices.

They made it in time, so just how long did the journey take? Nobody is telling: Commission chauffeurs are subject to the rules of the road just like other citizens of Europe. Naturally.