Neutrale EU-lidstaten tegen clausule gemeenschappelijke defensie (en)

The four neutral countries of the European Union, Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Austria, are set to refuse a mutual defence clause in the EU's new constitutional treaty, as was recently proposed by Britain, France and Germany and backed by the Italian EU presidency.

At a meeting in Naples (29 November) the three big countries agreed to create an independent planning division at the headquarters of the EU's military staff and supported the idea of a mutual defence clause, modelled on NATO.

Armed aggression

The Italian EU presidency presented on 2 December - after the Naples conclave - the following wording of a defence clause in the new EU Constitution:

"If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter."

This text is, however, not acceptable to the four neutrals.

Despite the impression given by the big three, the deal has still to be accepted by other EU countries. "It is by no means signed and sealed", said an ambassador from a neutral country to the Financial Times.

Instead the four have proposed a different article wording:

"If a Member State is victim of armed aggression, it may request that the other Member States give it aid and assistance by all the means in their power, military or other, in accordance with article 51 of the UN charter".

Working together

"Sweden is clearly to show solidarity with other EU countries, but binding defence commitments is not consistent with non-alignment", said Anders Bjurner, head of the Swedish foreign ministry department for European security to EUobserver.dk

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) presented his alternative proposal to Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Brussels last week.

Mr Tuomioja said Mr Frattini did not immediately comment on the proposal of the four countries, but he did say that Italy would also present a new proposal, according to Helsingin Sanomat.

Meeting today

In a meeting today (8 December) of EU foreign ministers in Brussels the Italian presidency will try to bridge the disagreements over future European defence.

Belgium, a keen supporter of a more active line in EU defence, has very little understanding of the neutral's position.

"We are building a European defence, which overturns the old way of thinking, based on the Cold War", the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said when visiting Finland last week.

Verhofstadt sees EU defence as "the first opportunity in a long time to build a bridge between the aligned and non-aligned countries", Helsingin Sanomat reported.

Brian Cowen, the Irish foreign minister, on the other hand warned of the possible outcome of a referendum in Ireland for any new EU treaty that does not confirm Irish neutrality.

Ireland takes over the EU presidency on 1 January.