Britain's role within the EU is highlighted on two fronts this weekend as the Referendum Party stages its first ­ and probably last ­ conference in Brighton, and the food industry sends another eager expeditionary force to France. As one-time grocery mogul Sir James Goldsmith steps up his campaign to bring the Europe debate to a head with a referendum ­ and almost certainly influence the outcome of the General Election ­ food and drink exporters make their biennial trip to the SIAL show, proving once again that whatever the politicians may come up with, survival on the exports front will always mean Europe figuring high in their trading lives. Long before the Chunnel became a reality, the Paris pilgrimage was written firmly into the industry's agenda. Yet, not too many years ago we were the poor relations in the overseas selling stakes, often proving to be a pale shadow of Germany's CMA and France's own Sopexa as we attempted to influence Gallic, and for that matter international tastes with a handful of poorly packaged products presented by teams of badly briefed executives. But now, thanks in no small measure to Food From Britain, not to mention some proactive British suppliers, the UK presentations at the world's second largest food fair will stand comparison with the best. It will be impossible to put politics aside tomorrow as the wheeling and dealing begins between over 4,000 exhibitors from 86 countries in SIAL's six halls. The usual contingent of the great and good from Brussels will strut the aisles and the behind the scenes talking will be all about monetary union and BSE, plus, of course, protectionism, the GATT world trade deal and eccentricities of the Common Agricultural Policy. The political spice will be stirred into the debating pot by visiting Euro-sceptics, eager to use all those issues to flavour their cause. But as they tramp the miles of aisles in Paris, traders and politicians alike would do well to remember the words of John Major in Bournemouth last week. We should be helping to shape Europe, not be shaped by it.{{NEWS}}

Topics