Brussels, 12/2/03 : Meeting nearly 100 members of the Assembly in Brussels, Michel Barnier, European Commissioner and member of the Praesidium of the European Convention called for a “Eurozone for Defence”. It would be composed of EU member states who would wish to cooperate on the execution of higher-end Petersberg missions and subscribe to an Article V type commitment on the basis of the modified Brussels Treaty. The legal framework for such a new form of opting-in arrangement would have to be incorporated in the new EU Treaty, he added. It should also be possible to open cooperation in the Defence Eurozone to non-EU countries, explained Mr Barnier.

Comparing the results of the Convention Working groups VII (External Action) and VIII (Defence) with the proposals put forward by the Assembly, he said the Assembly’s proposals were “much more audacious and politically stronger”.

The composition of the Defence Working Group had not allowed for more ambitious results, he explained. Currently, there was not enough support among Convention members to incorporate territorial defence in the EU Treaty as suggested by the Assembly.

Barnier said that there was a consensus to pursue the introduction of a “solidarity clause”, which was not a military collective defence agreement but would allow for a “response” to a terrorist attack on a EU member state using both civil and military means.