MEPs liven up IGC debate

Date: 23/05/1996

Preoccupations with BSE have diverted attention from that other well-known set of initials, the IGC. But rest assured that the national delegates to the conference are plodding on regardless, confident that sooner or later the media spotlight will turn on them again.

The difficulty, of course - for them as well as for us - is maintaining an interest. As well as the 'negotiating' sessions, there are dinners and lunches and by now everyone's official positions are pretty well known. The only light relief comes in the form of the monthly meetings when the European Parliament's two observers, Elisabeth Guigou and Elmar Brok, join in.

“Things only get interesting and we only have a genuine debate when the Parliament is present,” revealed one IGC insider. “The rest of the time, the representatives just read their texts.”