BRUSSELS: Sharp divisions have emerged at the Convention on the Future of Europe over a proposal to allow countries to leave the EU. Some members argued that such an exit clause could be used as a political weapon by member-state governments or by anti-EU politicians.
Most speakers favoured allowing countries to leave the EU, on condition that such action was not taken unilaterally but made in agreement with other EU member-states.
The Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner, Mr Antonio Vitorino, stressed that strict conditions were needed to ensure that the exit clause would not be used as a threat. "It should not be possible to leave just because someone is in a bad mood but should only be possible in the event of treaty changes," he said.
Mr Juergen Meyer, who represents the German Bundestag at the convention, said the proposal should be scrapped because to spell out a right to leave the EU would play into the hands of anti-EU politicians. But Ms Gisela Stuart, who represents the British parliament, argued that the exit clause would rob the EU's opponents of the argument that the EU was a political prison offering no escape.
"Those who are concerned this will simply fuel those anti-European feelings . . . will find in practice they have been proved wrong. For those who use it as political card, it will be seen as calling their bluff," she said. Members of the convention continued to express annoyance at the body's president, Mr Valery Giscard d'Estaing's decision to release his own proposals for institutional reform of the EU this week. Mr Giscard surprised the convention by failing to attend yesterday's session and cancelling his closing press conference.
Convention members have been examining draft treaty articles on the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy which would create the new post of an EU Minister for Foreign Affairs. The minister, who would combine the roles of Mr Chris Patten and Mr Javier Solana, would be a vice-president of the Commission but would also attend meetings of EU leaders and foreign ministers.
The minister would have the right to initiate foreign policy proposals, even without the support of the rest of the Commission. Proposals that gain the support of the Commission would be decided in Council of Ministers by qualified majority voting.
All other foreign policy decisions would require the approval of all EU member-states.