The Government has told the Convention on the Future of Europe that Ireland will resist any attempt to dilute national control over defence and security policy.
In a written submission to the Convention yesterday, the Government's representative, Mr Ray MacSharry, spelt out the Irish position on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
"The need for a sovereign decision in every instance where personnel from Ireland are being deployed on any crisis management operation is a key aspect for the Irish government. I would not like to see this principle of sovereign decision-making diluted as we take forward work on ESDP," he said.
Some EU member-states want to enhance the role of Europe's emerging defence capability, known as the Rapid Reaction Force. But there is little appetite for an increase in defence spending beyond present levels.
The Rapid Reaction Force has not yet been deployed and a row between Greece and Turkey is holding up an agreement that would allow the EU force to use NATO equipment.
Mr MacSharry stressed the EU had a number of other foreign policy instruments it could use to prevent conflicts and he called for an integrated approach.
"The Union has a unique range of instruments with diplomatic, trade, development and other means at its disposal to defuse conflict before it reaches irretrievable levels. As a central element of its approach, I think it is important that the EU continues to work to develop integrated approaches to conflict prevention and conflict resolution," he said.
The former Commission president, Mr Jacques Santer, who is representing the Luxembourg government at the Convention, said the EU needed to take defence issues more seriously if it was to have an impact on the international scene. "We need an autonomous, decision-making and action taking capability in the defence field. We do to a certain extent already have a European army."
EU leaders stated in Seville last month that Europe's emerging security identity did not involve the creation of a European army. They said it was up to each member-state to decide whether to participate in military operations.
