UK insists on own foreign policy

By William Horsley
BBC European affairs correspondent

Peter Hain: The UK will keep a veto on foreign and defence policy

The UK Government's representative on the convention on the future of Europe, Peter Hain, has said Britain will go on deciding its own foreign policy even if the EU appoints a foreign minister.

Mr Hain was speaking in Brussels at a two-day meeting of the convention, which is rushing to complete a draft European Union constitution by the end of this month.

After a year of debate, the 105 members are now arguing about the most sensitive questions, like how much power should be given to a new EU foreign minister.

Mr Hain told the meeting that foreign policy must go on being a matter for national governments.

And in a BBC interview he said Britain would keep its veto on foreign policy and defence.

Full-time presidency

But Britain has lined up with France and Germany in supporting the idea that the European Union must have a full-time president, instead of the present system by which countries take turns to hold the EU presidency for six months at a time.

The UK Government is playing down the significance of the latest opinion polls, showing that most British people feel the country is being pushed into joining a European state.

Mr Hain said Britain's vital national interests, including the right to set its own taxation policy, would all be maintained.

But he added that sweeping reforms were needed to adapt the EU to enlarge within a year to take in 10 new members states.