Former head of Nato Solana wants EU to speak with one voice on future resourse wars

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 24, 2003 16:41 by franco

Solana considers one EU seat in UN solution to divisions. JAVIER SOLANA - "There are many lessons" to be learnt from Europe's crisis in the past few weeks, says the EU foreign policy chief.

In an interview with Die Welt, the EU's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, offers some suggestions for how the current crisis in the European Union could be avoided in the future.

A "possible cause" for the rift between the EU fifteen is the fact that the EU is not represented by one seat in the United Nations Security Council.

"The EU is not represented by one seat in the United Nations. But the problems were created in the United Nations."

He noted the differences of opinion ran exactly between the four members of the Security Council - the UK and France (as permanent members) and Spain and Germany (as non-permanent members).

"Imagine what influence Europe could have had if it had spoken with one voice?" asked Mr Solana.

Speaking with one voice is not just something for the Union in the UN but for "the EU as a whole."

According to the Treaty of European Union, all EU member states have an obligation to refrain from doing anything that goes against a common position in foreign policy.

"It is regrettable that precisely this was not followed by some member states," said the EU's foreign policy chief.

Weak Europe not in America's interest
Mr Solana believes that a weak Europe is not in America's interest. The big challenges in world politics are usually for both the USA and the EU, he says.

"Of course, Europe should invest more in its military capabilities, I have said that for years. But the USA is the number one and we do not have these strengths."

Europe's strengths lie with international investment, development aid and trade.