Brussels, 05/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - In the contribution on European defence policy presented to the European Convention last week by Ana de Palacio, Spanish Foreign Minister, who represented the Spanish government at the Convention, Spain considers that the "EU should now focus on improving its own capacity for autonomous crisis management action, where NATO as such is not involved, as well as its ability to face the new security challenges". This is a "common challenge, a non exclusive project" which "all Member States should undertake together", and which is linked to the strengthening of transatlantic relations and cooperation between EU and NATO, the contribution states. Ms Palacio recognises the fact that European public opinion demands a policy able to respond to crises and to current security challenges. She goes on to say (an obvious illusion to the mini-summit on defence between France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg on 29 April in Brussels): "We welcome the debate on this matter which is already taking place within the Convention on the Future of Europe. Only a policy which is put forward within the Institutions can claim to be a European policy. Any other approach, however interesting it might be, is not a true European Security and Defence Policy and is not entitled to the name of ESDP".
The Spanish proposals take up a number of the elements contained in the report by the Barnier working group at the Convention but also in the conclusions of the mini-summit of the Four (EUROPE of 30 April, p.5). In addition to a solidarity clause, Spain supports the idea of introducing into the future Treaty a "flexible framework" allowing some Member States to strengthen their defence cooperation. To this end, Spain makes the following proposals so that the ESDP may move forward, "both in the short term and in the context of the Treaty reform": - implementation of Petersberg tasks by a group of willing Member States which have the necessary capabilities; - the establishment of a European Agency for Military Capabilities possibly building on already existing frameworks of multinational armaments cooperation; - the establishment of structured cooperation between Member States which are able and willing to fulfil higher criteria on military capabilities, in particular in quality terms, with a view to undertaking more demanding military operations; - the establishment of a mutual defence clause in a Protocol annexed to the Constitutional Treaty, to which willing Member States can opt in under certain conditions and fully consistent with NATO commitment. "This would reproduce in the EU framework the commitment already existing between WEU Members in the Brussels Treaty, without conflicting in any way with NATO"; the document states.
Spain also stresses the need to: (1) intensify work to achieve the initial targets for military capabilities set in the Helsinki Headline Goal in 2003 as well as new targets mainly for allowing the EU to face up to terrorist threat and the threat of weapons of mass destruction; (2) strengthen the role of Defence Ministers in the management of the military aspects of ESDP and envisage the possibility of creating a Council of Defence Ministers; (3) institute a Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union, who would contribute towards framing and implementing the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including ESDP; (4) envisage the possibility of developing a military concept on defence against terrorism and other new threats; (5) make a broader definition of the Petersberg tasks to include other tasks that imply the use of military means, including conflict prevention, post-conflict stabilisation operations, military advice, disarmament operations and support to third countries in the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, this should allow the use of military means in the support of Member States against the threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.