Duff calls for Common EU security policy - with or without UK

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th May 2003

Speaking today to the European Convention, Liberal spokesman Andrew Duff MEP called UK government policy on common foreign and security policy "indefensible and inexplicable".

Having listened to Peter Hain presenting the British government's position, Duff said:

"The UK wants to steal the existing prerogatives of the Commission in the field of external relations and give them to an EU Foreign Minister who would be solely accountable to the Council. How can this be said to be consistent with previous British demands for the institutional balance to be maintained?

"Mr Hain also wants to prevent the European Court of Justice from having supervision over common foreign and security policy. One wonders what sort of foreign policy ventures the UK is planning that they need a derogation from the normal processes of judicial review. The fact is that as the security dimension of the Union grows, the role of the EU Courts becomes ever more important. One need only think of sanctions and the role of the EU agencies in the Balkans."

In his presentation on behalf of the Liberals, Mr Duff welcomed the move to reinforced cooperation between a core group of member states that were "politically willing, military capable and European minded".

Most foreign policy decisions could and should be taken by majority vote in the Council, with constructive abstentions as and when necessary. Military decisions would continue to be taken by unanimity among those who intended to take part.

"Whether Britain participates or not is its business, but we have no right to block progress by our Union partners in this field."