Vol. 421 No. 4
270 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the declaration on voting in the field of the common foreign and security policy which is attached to the Maastricht Treaty, he will outline the way in which future negotiations on foreign defence must be agreed by unanimity.
The new Treaty on European Union, in Article J. 8 (2), states the rule that under the common foreign and security policy, the Council shall take decisions by unanimity. There is provision for exceptions to this rule in the implementation of joint action under Article J. 3 (2). However, as such exceptions must themselves be defined by unanimity, there remains a fundamental safeguard for individual member states against being outvoted on matters which they consider sensitive.
The Declaration on voting under the CFSP to which the question refers states that to the extent possible, member states will avoid preventing a unanimous decision where a qualified majority exists in favour of that decision. This is a political commitment on the part of the Twelve to try to reach agreement. It does not alter the rules on decision-making contained in the Treaty.
