[ARTICLE 16]

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY:

UK MUST CONSULT WITH EUROPEAN COUN= CIL & COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

BEFORE PURSUING ANY INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY ACTION

[ARTICLE 16]

AMENDMENT TO: Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and t= he Treaty establishing the European Community (Lisbon, 13 December 2007)<= /span>

&= nbsp;

Policy Area:

Treaty= on European Union, Title V, provisions on Common Foreign and Security Policy, = Chapter 2, Specific provisions on the common foreign and security policy, section 1 Common provisions, Article 16

Amendment:

Clause 2<= /span>, page 1, line 12, leave out ‘any’ and insert—

‘(i) Article 1, paragr= aph 35, amendments to Article 16 TEU relating to Member States informing and consulting one another within the Common Foreign and Security Policy; and <= /span>

(ii) any other’.=

Amendment:

Clause 2<= /span>, page 1, line 12, leave out ‘any’ and insert—

‘(i) Article 1, paragr= aph 25, headings relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy; and=

(ii) any other’.=

Lisb= on Treaty Article:

“35) Article 16 shall be amended as follows= :

(a) the words "inform and" shall be deleted, the words "within the Council" shall be replaced by "within the European Council and the Council" and the words "= ;in order to ensure that the Union's influence is exerted as effectively as possible by means of concerted and convergent action" shall be replace= d by "in order to determine a common approach";

(b) the following sent= ences shall be added after the first sentence: "Before undertaking any actio= n on the international scene or entering into any commitment which could affect<= o:p>

the Union's interests, each Member State shall consult the others within the European Council or the Council. Member States shall ensure, through the convergence of their actions, that the Union is able to assert its interests and values on= the international scene. Member States shall show mutual solidarity."= ;;

"When the European Council or the Council has defined a common approach of the

Union within the meaning of the first paragraph, = the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the

Member States shall coordinate their activities within the Council.

The diplomatic missions of the Member States and the Union delegations in third countries and at international organisations shall cooperate and shall contribute to= formulating and implementing the common approach.".”

= &nb= sp;

Consolidated Treaty Article(s):<= o:p>

= 220;Article 16

Mem= ber States shall inform and consult one another within the Council on any matte= r of foreign and security policy of general interest in order to ensure that the= Union's influence is exerted as effectively as poss= ible by means of concerted and convergent action.”

Explanation:

Articl= e 16 was substantially amended by the Lisbon Treaty and it massively enhance= s the necessary obligation of Member States to consult with others within the European Council and Council of Ministers before pursuing “any action= on the international scene.”

Under this Article, Member Sta= tes are obliged to consult with “one another” not only within the Counc= il of Ministers but also within the European Council “on any matter of fore= ign and security policy.” Presently, this is to “ensure that the Union's influence is exerted as effectively as possible by means of concerted and convergent action” but under the Lisbon Treaty, it is asserted forcef= ully “in order to determine a common approach.”

Furthermore, the Lisbon Treaty adds the new requirement “Before undertaking any action on the international scene= or entering into any commitment which could affect the Union's interests, each= Member State shall consult the others within the European Council or the Council.” Furthermore, the Union delegations in third countries and Member State diplomatic missions will have to cooperate and to contribute to formulating= and implementing the common approach. (This last provision is similar to Articl= e 20). The provision will prevent any of the signed-up Member States from pursuing= an independent foreign policy.

<= o:p>