Militarily non-allied Member States propose an article on the right to request aid to the Constitutional Treaty of the EU
Press release 296/2003
5 December, 2003
The Intergovernmental Conference of the European Union is now addressing the articles on the European Security and Defence Policy. The Governments of Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden propose in a letter to the Foreign Minister of the EU Presidency that, instead of an article on a binding defence commitment, a clause be introduced into the Constitutional Treaty, according to which a Member State which is victim of armed aggression may request that the other Member States give it aid and assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden propose that the first paragraph of Article I-40 (7) of the Presidency proposal be replaced with the following: If a Member State is victim of armed aggression, it may request that the other Member States give it aid and assistance by all the means in their power, military or other, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Further information: Elina Kalkku, Head of Unit for Security Policy, tel. +358 9 160 55480, +358 40 570 4773, Political Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs