An astonishing row blew up on Friday when Germany sparked what Reuter described as a European Community crisis by cutting a side deal with the US to evade telecommunications trade sanctions that are being imposed on the other 11 member states. The side deal was immediately denounced by the Commission as illegal. Barely 48 hours after putting its signature to EC counter-sanctions against the US in a row over government contracts, Germany reneged and, citing a 1954 treaty, announced it would ignore the Article 29 provisions of the public procurement directive, Reuter reported from Brussels. The full story is in page five.
