Secret mission

Date: 25/06/1998

Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan showed a rare appreciation of the popular impact of the liberal world trade agenda during a recent lunch with Australian businessmen.

Any Aussie who doubted the EU's commitment to modernising its agriculture sector should take a trip through the Union's rural areas, he said.

Then, adopting a somewhat cautionary tone, Sir Leon added: “And I would advise them to do so incognito.”