Lawmakers mapping out a constitution for the enlarged European Union have backed plans for a foreign minister to boost the EU's global profile, but Britain said he must be controlled by national governments.
Many speakers in the 105-member Convention on the Future of Europe called for curbs on the use of the national veto in foreign affairs, citing strong public support in opinion polls for more assertive EU diplomacy after the Iraq war.
That crisis exposed deep divisions among the 25 current and future members of the bloc.
"Far from discouraging us, the international context should lead us on the contrary to strengthen our united resources behind an ambitious foreign policy," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said, endorsing the plans for a minister.
France, backed by Germany, strongly opposed the war in Iraq and criticised ex-communist countries set to join the EU for siding with the United States and Britain in the crisis.
Mr de Villepin noted that a draft prepared by the Convention's steering presidium called on all member states to back the EU's policies in a "spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity".
Under the latest draft, the foreign minister would combine the responsibilities now carried out by Mr Javier Solana, who reports to national governments, and Mr Chris Patten, who sits in the executive European Commission and holds the purse strings.
The minister would be a vice-president of the Commission but would be primarily answerable to member governments in the policy-making Council of Ministers.
Britain, backed by Sweden, says the minister should be firmly rooted in the Council.
"Decision-making power must remain in the Council and member states," said Mr Peter Hain, the British government delegate.
Hain objected to the very name "foreign minister". "It is misleading since we don't have a European government," he said.