The readiness of EC officials to discount the whole issue is a cause for grave concern.

However, EC officials said that major disagreements remained.

EC officials said that the move endangered attempts to reach an overall GATT agreement.

Add to that a good 'who's who' of EC officials and you have the makings of a basic Euro data-base.

An EC official said that it would be necessary to "negotiate again" and the initialling ceremony scheduled for Dec. 15 was postponed.

In this context EC officials stressed, however, that waste was a "unique case".

The staff were to meet EC officials yesterday to finalise arrangements for European funding for environmental studies in the isles.

We also support the initiative to give further training to EC officials engaged in external activities.

The result was greeted with confusion and consternation by EC officials.

'The paradox is that Major is now the strongest of them all,' said one EC official.