EU leaders pressed ahead with the ongoing establishment of the Union's military structures but left allies Turkey and, to a lesser extent, Canada deeply unhappy over their limited access to the decision-making structures, writes Patrick Smyth.
The Union wants to limit the dialogue with such countries to "exchanges . . . where the subject matter requires it", a far cry diplomatically from "consultation", let alone the demands of the non-EU NATO countries for full involvement in the planning process.
An Irish official said that the summit's conclusions were balanced and met Irish concerns. The provisions on Turkey were "what the market would bear at the moment".
Turkey has offered to contribute some 3,000 troops, and similar numbers in air and naval support, to the planned rapid reaction capability of 50,000 and is adamant that such commitments must entail a greater say in decision-making.