Brussels, 07/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The prospects that the German embargo on British beef will soon be lifted are good but the Commission threat of 20 December that infringement proceedings will be initiated still hangs over the federal authorities. During a meeting on Monday morning in Brussels with European Commission David Byrne, Mrs Andrea Fischer, German Health Minister, said she was optimistic and considered that, in the light of the consensus reached by the Bundesrat (High Chamber of the Parliament where the Länder have seats, the only body empowered to lift the embargo), that a positive vote may come on 17 March.
David Byrne's spokesperson nonetheless recalled that the sending of a letter of formal notice to the German authorities (first stage in infringement proceedings) was not to be ruled out, given the delay as Germany has never deliberately intended to hinder Community law but the vote, which the Commission planned to have on 15 December, has still not come.