Est. 1min 13-09-2002 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The President of the Convention, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, has called for a more coherent EU foreign policy, so that Europe would be better able to handle crises such as Iraq. Read more with Euractiv Centre-right parties launch network to co-ordinate exchange of policy ideasEuropean centre-right parties are launching the European Ideas Network - a pan-European think-tank - to promote new thinking on the key issues facing the EU. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Background Mr Giscard told the Guardian newspaper that "the first reflex" in foreign policy is still national. The EU needs to become a more coherent actor on the world stage, and act together, he said. One of the aims of the European Convention, which should come up with the first draft proposal for a future EU constitution in November, is to make the EU a global player. While an economic giant, the EU is still considered a political dwarf on the international stage, mainly due to the failure of the Member States to converge on foreign policy issues. The clout of the EU should increase considerably with its eastern enlargement which will increase the Union's population to 500 million, but that could also lead to more divergence on foreign policy. Mr Giscard revealed proposals for changing the present cumbersome title of the EU foreign policy representative, "high representative for common foreign and security policy", to something internationally recognised, such as "EU secretary of state" or "foreign minister". The EU foreign minister should be based in the European Council, beside the heads of government and the Commission President. The Commission, supported by Germany and some other Member States, proposes that the EU foreign policy representative should be based within the Commission rather than the Council. The European People's Party group in the European Parliament is backing this proposal in its own draft EU Constitution. Convention President wants foreign policy to remain in the hands of the Member States, but suggests it should be coordinated with the Commission. The Commission has significant responsibilities in the areas of external relations, trade and foreign aid.
