Political crisis has on occasion been a major catalyst for closer integration in the European Union, the most notable example being the decision to create the single currency after the end of the Cold War twelve years ago.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the Iraq war may present a similar opportunity to make progress towards a more integrated EU foreign and defence policy - or to see the deep divisions generated by the conflict setting back its overall development for years to come.
In a fine speech to the European Parliament yesterday the president of the Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, presented a stark choice: "Do we want to be left out, all of us, from the management of world affairs? Or do want to play a part, on an equal footing with our allies, in building a new world order?" The need to co-operate to be effective in international affairs and the objective of establishing a more equal relationship with the United States have become increasingly urgent themes at the Convention on the Future of Europe. It is considering how common values and interests can be expressed in a more coherent EU foreign policy and the best means to do so.
The convention president, Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, discussed this with the Taoiseach in Dublin yesterday and said he believes it will be possible to agree on how to develop a more united security and defence approach. Mr Ahern said it is possible to create common institutions without full agreement on policy - indeed it is their precise function to mediate disagreements as deep as those on Iraq. What has been so conspicuously absent is a readiness by leaders to act with a common will on Iraq, whether from carelessness or malice, creating deeper distrust which could take years to repair. Compared with that there has been a remarkable unity in European public opinion on Iraq and a desire to see a more effective common policy.
The challenge facing political leaders is to agree on how to translate this potential into a more effective policy and how to communicate that task politically to their citizens. This would involve creating a more unified decision-making structure and representation on foreign policy and security issues. On defence and military cooperation the options include using the "flexibility" rules set out in the Nice Treaty, as the Belgians, Germans and French suggest. A solidarity clause relating to non-state terrorist threats is another option; a collective defence clause within an opt-in protocol a third one. Such choices will need to be made over coming months as the convention frames the options in a new constitutional treaty for the EU. The Iraq crisis will sharpen that debate.