Lauwe ontvangst defensieplannen neutrale lidstaten (en) - Main contents

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The four neutral countries in the European Union have received a muted response to their proposals to water down an article on mutual defence in the future EU Constitution.

Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday were reticent about the new wording proposed by Austria, Finland, Ireland and Sweden which suggests "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".

The four took the floor to explain their position, expressed in a common letter, at the start of the meeting stressing their commitment to solidarity but not to the "automaticity" of a defence clause.

But several governments including Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Romania, as well as delegates from both the European Parliament and the European Commission spoke out against watering down the article.

France, Germany and the UK, who agreed a much stronger wording last week, did not speak on the issue during the meeting, said sources.

The Finnish Foreign Minister commented to journalists afterwards that it was as if they did not want to talk to the "peasantry".

Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen conceded that there was only some support for neutrals.

He was not optimistic that the four's wording would be included in the new proposals on the Constitution due to be presented on Tuesday afternoon (9 December) by the Italian Presidency

The Italian Presidency is now likely to produce an article with wording similar to that originally proposed by the UK, France and Germany - which would oblige all member states to provide assistance if another member state were attacked - but with an extra statement referring to the defence traditions and constitutional practices in member states.

Mr Cowen remained non committal on such a solution saying only that it would be one for the lawyers.

On the other hand, the general discussion on structured co-operation in EU defence was positive, said EU diplomats.

The vast majority of countries remained in favour of the new Italian Presidency proposal which would allow countries to forge ahead in defence so long as certain criteria were met.