Iraq to influence articles in EU constitution

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday March 08, 2003 22:01 by bright future

The current split in Europe over the crisis in Iraq will influence the Convention's drafting of articles on foreign policy. Convention president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing says that in the new constitution there would be "obligations committing everyone" in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP.

The all-pervasive issue of Iraq is having a strong influence on Convention debates.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The current split in Europe over the crisis in Iraq will influence the Convention's drafting of articles on foreign policy.

Convention president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing told journalists on Friday in Brussels that the presidium will "suggest that before putting forward national views," member states should look to the "common view" first.

He added that the system currently in place - which calls on the EU 15 to show mutual solidarity in foreign policy - does not allow member states "to easily reflect on events as they begin," - only after the event has happened.

Breaching treaty
Mr Giscard said that in the new constitution there would be "obligations committing everyone" in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP. This was a clear reference to the fact that member states have ignored article 19 of the Treaty on the European Union which calls for co-ordinated action in "international organisations and at international conferences."

The four EU member states currently in the UN Security Council (the UK, Spain, France and Germany) have been doing anything but that. Article 11.2 suggests that "member states shall support the Union's external and security policy actively and unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity."

At the moment there is nothing to stop member states going their own way as the European Court of Justice does not have any jurisdiction in CFSP.

The presidium will also suggest ambitious articles on defence. This will not just be "solidarity against terrorism" as suggested by the Convention's Working Group on defence but also "security for the member states."

Convention should look to the future
Introduced by Mr Giscard as "casting a shadow", the issue of Iraq came up several times during the two-day plenary debate in the Convention last week.

French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin called for a "detailed reflection" on the Union's place in the world adding that due to the situation "now more than ever we have to reconfirm our common position."

Commissioner Michel Barnier, chair of the working group on defence said the international context meant the Convention should give a signal of "willingness" and not "fatalism."

Spanish foreign minister, Ana Palacio, said it is "a difficult time for Europe" but the Convention "must not lose heart."

But an actual debate on common foreign policy has been postponed until the last moment - in April. "There is absolutely no point in having a discussion about it now, we don't want to make even bigger fools of ourselves," said a presidium source.