Germany, France and Britain EU defense plan supported

NAPLES, Italy -- France, Britain and Germany won broad support Saturday for a plan to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities, but EU countries failed to reach agreement on the emotionally charged issue of whether the EU constitution should mention God or include a reference to Europe's Christian heritage.

EU foreign ministers welcomed the defense plan as a major achievement in efforts to map out an independent military role for the European Union while keeping NATO as the continent's primary defender.

However, the ministers cautioned that the carefully worded plan, which includes a guarantee of mutual assistance and a scaled-down headquarters, still needs Washington's blessing.

The United States has long been wary of European defense initiatives, worried they could erode NATO, which has formed the backbone of European defense since World War II.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the plan does not sideline NATO. "Everybody now recognizes the primacy" of NATO, he said as the ministers wrapped up the latest round of negotiations on the European Union's first constitution.

In other areas, ministers made little headway during the two days of talks in Naples. With the deadline for the final draft just two weeks away, EU nations remain deeply divided over a number of issues, including whether the constitution should include a reference to God or Christianity. EU nations also remain at odds over how the bloc will make common decisions on foreign policy, with small nations worried about ceding power to larger ones.

France, Germany and Britain proposed a permanent EU military planning and command cell at NATO's military headquarters in Belgium where EU planners can use NATO planes, satellite intelligence and communications network for peacekeeping missions.

The plan diplomatically avoids the word headquarters so it won't give the impression it rivals the NATO head office in Brussels.

The proposed defense plan also includes a mutual defense guarantee saying if an EU state "is the victim of an armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall" come to its aid.

It keeps NATO as "the foundation" of the collective defense of NATO members, wording designed to defuse fears in Austria, Ireland, Sweden and Finland -- the EU's four neutral states -- that the EU is becoming militarized.

"Our proposals were very well received by all participants" French Foreign Minister Dominque de Villepin said.

With the agreement, the 15 members of the European Union and the 10 nations slated to join in May will be able to endorse a common defense strategy at a Dec. 12-13 summit even though some details of the military policy must still be resolved, Villepin said.

However, the EU leaders face long hours of debate on other issues.

Still unresolved is whether to mention Europe's Christian heritage or God in the constitution. Secular France opposes that, as do Denmark and Belgium. Predominantly Roman Catholic nations -- Ireland, Italy, Spain and Poland -- want such a reference.

There was also disagreement on how to make decisions on EU foreign policy. The Italian foreign minister, Frattini, claimed "broad support" for his plan to make decisions by majority voting, but other officials disagreed.

Spain and Poland continued to oppose simplifying the EU's complicated voting rules for fear this will diminish their influence. Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz called the current system "much better for the union."

Governments are also divided over a new seat allocation for the European Parliament and the size of the EU's executive commission.

Even if EU nations manage to adopt a constitution in December, it will have to be ratified by parliaments and referendums, with the aim of having the new charter take effect starting Jan. 1, 2005.

The 10 states joining the EU in May are Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta and the Czech Republic.

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On the Net:

EU Constitution talks: http://ue.eu.int/igc/index.asp