It does not feature much in their plans for a common foreign policy, and not at all in their early sketches of a common defence policy.
But if we had had an integrated Europe with a common defence policy and a common foreign policy, then I think we'd have seen a very different situation.
BBC: News | BREAKFAST WITH FROST | Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram
Thinking about the practical implications of a common European foreign policy and, further ahead, a common defence, is a job for the commission as well as for governments.
It got its budget rebate, stayed out of the Schengen free-travel area, opted out of the euro, stayed half-out of co-operation on judicial and police affairs and is blocking attempts to create stronger common defence and foreign policies.
Tony Blair would not have been able to operate in the way that he has very successfully done so, in building the international coalition because if you have a common foreign policy or common defence policy, in the end you always have to go to the lowest common denominator.
BBC: News | BREAKFAST WITH FROST | Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram
They still hope to draw the British into a common European defence policy, even under a Conservative government.
It also further undermines a pet French project for common European defence.
But Mr Straw said he "could not see much difference" in the idea of replacing the common law defence of "justification" with the statutory defence of "truth".
BBC: Falconer: Libel plans are 'impressive' and 'worthwhile'
Former Justice Secretary Jack Straw also agreed that the plans would make "significant changes", particularly the plans to replace the common law defence of "fair comment" with "honest opinion".
BBC: Falconer: Libel plans are 'impressive' and 'worthwhile'
Moreover, the Union's desire, reflected in the document under discussion, to build a common foreign and defence policy is welcome.
The European Parliament's Defence and Scrutiny Committee took evidence on 28 September 2010 on the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU's common security and defence policy.
Thatcher urged Nato's member states to "strive to maintain" the US's commitment to ensuring transatlantic defence against common enemies.
The Lib Dems say that they would like the Parliament to control all taxation north of the border, sending a portion south to Westminster to pay for common British functions such as defence.
Beyond the summit spotlight, European foreign and defence ministers were expected to try to forge a common stance on a controversial U.S. missile defence plan before their leaders meet with U.S. President George W. Bush in Gothenburg, Sweden on Thursday, Associated Press reported.
She called for a "fundamental re-negotiation" of Britain's links with the EU, stopping short of calling for withdrawal but nevertheless suggesting that the UK should pull out of common agricultural, fisheries, foreign and defence policies.
Many French politicians and businessmen, however, want to create not just a defence identity for the European Union but also a common front against the English-speaking world.
ECONOMIST: The EU turns its attention from ploughshares to swords
Questioned by defence QC Ignatius Hughes, she said it was common knowledge Mr Taylor was under surveillance at the time he made remarks denying any involvement in his wife's disappearances.
BBC: Murder accused 'speculated on wife Alethea Taylor's fate'
They have already made common cause on land sales, shouting and singing patriotic songs in parliament in defence of the soil.
Mr Rajaratnam's defence told the New York court the alleged insider tips he got from them were common knowledge.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey welcomed the report and said many of the proposals were good common sense.
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