Security headaches

Date: 19/06/1997

Transport arrangements for the summit caused enough headaches without bikes: the Dutch decided that for security's sake, European Commissioners should transfer from their own limousines to Dutch official cars which had been positively vetted.

A note to the Breydel from the Commission's man in Holland, Nico Wegter, explained that President Jacques Santer would travel in a “clean, blinded car”, but the others - Hans van den Broek, Yves-Thibault de Silguy and Marcelino Oreja - warranted “clean” cars, but not “blinded” ones.

Puzzled recipients wondered why the Dutch would blank out the lights on Santer's transport, until someone realised that Wegter was referring to armoured cars.

Obviously, the Dutch reckon terrorists would only bother taking a pot-shot at Santer. Nevertheless, orders went out that all the Commissioners' luggage must travel separately from the Dutch border to Amsterdam.