France and Germany will go forward no matter what. The "defence" plank of the Constitution for Europe saw two significant changes last week. The first is that France and Germany have confirmed that they will go ahead in this field whatever happens, together with like-minded Member States. I have long been convinced that this would be the case, as this column testifies. But my personal opinion is worth what it's worth, i.e. nothing. It's quite a different matter if it's the French Foreign Minister confirming it. In an article entitled "A new time for Europe", Dominique de Villepin has declared that in this area, the EU does not necessarily need to act in concert. I quote (our translation throughout): "should genuine autonomy in the field of defence be imposed on all Member States, at the risk of leading to log jams and delays? If some members are reluctant, nothing should force them to take part in this kind of action; but equally, nothing should force those to wait, who want to commit. Our working methods must be flexible enough to allow the most forward to act. If there is not this flexibility, will the most enterprising have any other choice but to lead from the front, alone?". Mr de Villepin, an expert on rhetoric, is perfectly aware that this last sentence is not a question but a statement. He went on to say that "France intends to conclude this project with all Member States that want to, first of all with Germany" (because "our two countries should push European integration further"), and he did not forget Great Britain, which, in defence matters, has "the same willingness to possess effective and credible means".
France and Germany's determination to carry out "structured co-operation" in this field had already been established at the dinner between Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on 13 October (the only IGC meeting to date on the Europe of Defence). Joschka Fischer spoke plainly when he said that this co-operation will be carried out no matter what, outside the Treaty if needs be. But indications of the German Minister's actual words came either second hand, or were confided as top secret. This is why I have never quoted them, only given the gist. Now that Dominique de Villepin has spoken publicly (the quotations above are taken from an article he published in "Les Echos" in France, and other countries), we can see that France and Germany are singing from the same hymn-sheet. The French Minister's words are more global, as he is clearly sketching a differentiated Europe with a common base (the internal market, the "cornerstone of our common organisation", with accompanying policies which are also common to all, of which Mr de Villepin referred to the agricultural policy and regional aid), and a vanguard for the larger ambitions, in research and high-tech industry, and of course, defence, to create "a European project which is better adapted to the realities of the world".
Spain will be in the more ambitious group. The second important piece of news is that Spain has announced that it will take part in "structured co-operation" in the field of defence. José Maria Aznar said this to Jacques Chirac during last week's bilateral Summit in Carcassonne. This announcement had been anticipated by Spanish Minister Ana de Palacio at the aforementioned dinner between Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on 13 October. However, in this page on 4 November I put Spain amongst the countries which have yet to pronounce themselves, because Ana Palacio's comments were confidential. Now that Mr Aznar has confirmed them, we can celebrate the good news. This makes it all the more urgent for the other Member States to declare whether they will take part in the "structured co-operation", first among them Italy.
The situation. A summary of the five elements of the "defence" plank of the draft Constitution drawn up by the Convention follows:
unanimous agreement on reinforcement and extension of Petersberg missions which the EU can carry out to prevent conflicts or re-establish peace;
unanimous agreement on "solidarity clause" in case of terrorist attacks or natural disaster;
agreement in principle on Armament Agency, but tasks, functioning and conditions of involvement still to be specified;
informal negotiations underway on "structured co-operation", on criteria for involvement, functioning and "entry clause". List of participating countries uncertain;
discussions underway on common defence clause" ("closer co-operation") to make it compatible with similar NATO clause. Reservations and confusion expressed by several countries.
(F.R.)