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Broad agreement reached on E.U. defence policy

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS DEC. 2. There was cautious optimism at the end of the European Union Foreign Ministers' weekend meeting in Naples, Italy, where they worked on the proposed E.U. constitutional framework. The parameters of European integration will be finalised at the summit of 25 heads of Government in Brussels on December 12-13.

The highlight of the proposed framework is that on defence strategy, there is a broad agreement, allowing important countries such as Germany, France and Britain to develop the E.U.'s defence capability.

It is argued that the E.U. defence plan may pose a threat to NATO. The U.S. has opposed the proposals for formation of a European military with a separate policy and command structure. In a related development, the U.S. Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, has arrived here for a scheduled meeting of NATO Defence Ministers. He is likely to be reassured by the Defence Ministers that forming a European military would not undermine NATO.

The European defence proposals were finalised by Germany, France and Britain recently and was discussed by the 25 E.U. Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Naples.

The Foreign Ministers also discussed the voting system in the enlarged E.U.'s Council of Ministers and more power may be granted to smaller states. Germany has opposed this move since the strategy may undermine its voting power in the Council. Germany, with a population of 80 million, is currently the largest E.U. member state and the revised voting strategy may also weaken the influence of Spain and Poland. However, details have still to be worked out and this may be finalised at the summit of the E.U heads of Government.

The Constitution is likely to be approved by a "unanimous vote'' by the 15 current members of the E.U. and the 10 countries which will join it in May 2004.

The E.U. will soon have a Foreign Minister for the first time in its history. His mission will be to articulate European perspectives on global and pan-European issues in the domestic and international forums.

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