EU:Internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy has said public opposition to a common European defence policy is declining in the Republic.
But introducing a draft law yesterday aimed at creating a pan-EU market for military equipment, Ireland's EU commissioner said a common European defence strategy - under which member states would agree to defend each other and the EU collectively if they came under attack - would not become a reality for several years at least.
"This is a difficult political issue in some member states but I don't think it is as difficult now as it was when I started my political career in the State that I know best. When it will happen, I do not know. I do not expect it in my political lifetime but then I only have two years left," said Mr McCreevy, who will retire from politics in 2009.
Several EU states, particularly France and Germany, are aggressively pushing the idea of a common EU defence policy. French president Nicolas Sarkozy is planning to put forward proposals on the issue during France's six-month tenure as EU president in the second half of 2008.
Industry commissioner Günter Verheugen, who co-launched the draft law on defence procurement with Mr McCreevy, also supports a common EU defence strategy. "We need that [EU common defence]," he said. "It is absolutely crucial and is what European citizens expect the EU to do. The only thing I know is that it will come."
However, several neutral EU member states, including Ireland, still oppose creating a common European defence policy. Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea told The Irish Times at last month's Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels that Ireland was constitutionally debarred from being involved. "That will remain the position until the people in their wisdom decide to change the Constitution and I don't see that happening any time soon," added Mr O'Dea.
Ireland is a strong supporter of European security and defence policy when it involves peacekeeping operations sanctioned by the UN, such as the proposed mission to Chad. But the Fianna Fáil-led Government zealously guards the right of the Cabinet and the Dáil to decide when the Defence Forces are deployed abroad. Fine Gael, however, has argued in favour of developing a common European defence policy.
The draft law proposed yesterday by Mr McCreevy and Mr Verheugen seeks to prevent EU member states from using opt-outs from EU tendering regulations to protect domestic defence industries and to limit competition in the sector.
These opt-outs lead to unnecessary waste of defence budgets and duplication in equipment purchases by member states - a situation that has undermined EU defence capabilities.