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EU 'no threat' on foreign policy Miliband denies EU 'power creep'
(about 2 hours later)
The EU Treaty will strengthen, not undermine British foreign policy, the UK's foreign secretary has said.The EU Treaty will strengthen, not undermine British foreign policy, the UK's foreign secretary has said.
David Miliband said the EU's role would complement, not rival Nato and denied an EU figure would replace the UK on the UN Security Council.David Miliband said the EU's role would complement, not rival Nato and denied an EU figure would replace the UK on the UN Security Council.
But for the Tories William Hague said the terms on the security council could be "the thin edge of the wedge". The Tories said the "creeping powers" on foreign and defence policy would erode the UK's ability "to be masters of our own destiny".
MPs are debating the Lisbon Treaty's implications for foreign, security and defence issues. EU parliaments must ratify the treaty - signed by EU leaders last year.
It is the fifth day of topic-by-topic Commons debates on the Treaty, drawn up to replace the failed EU Constitution and signed by Gordon Brown last December. MPs debated implications for foreign, security and defence issues on the fifth day of topic-by-topic debates on the Lisbon Treaty, drawn up to replace the failed EU Constitution.
'Coherent voice''Coherent voice'
But the treaty has yet to be ratified by all parliaments from EU member states - and the European Parliament has also debated the Lisbon Treaty on Wednesday. Meanwhile in Strasbourg the European Parliament also debated, and overwhelmingly backed, the treaty on Wednesday.
Opening the Commons debate, Mr Miliband said the decision to create a new EU High Representative for foreign and security issues would give Europe "a more coherent voice internationally".Opening the Commons debate, Mr Miliband said the decision to create a new EU High Representative for foreign and security issues would give Europe "a more coherent voice internationally".
Britain will continue to decide on its own foreign policy David MilibandBritain will continue to decide on its own foreign policy David Miliband
He insisted the EU would not act "as an alternative to UK foreign policy but as one means for its implementation".He insisted the EU would not act "as an alternative to UK foreign policy but as one means for its implementation".
He argued that the treaty would not change the "fundamental nature" of existing areas of co-operation - for example on sanctions on Iran - but would enhance them.
The UK's seat on the UN Security Council would not be affected as only sovereign states could hold a seat.The UK's seat on the UN Security Council would not be affected as only sovereign states could hold a seat.
And on defence policy, provisions in the treaty would help get other EU states to build up forces to "shoulder more of the international burden".And on defence policy, provisions in the treaty would help get other EU states to build up forces to "shoulder more of the international burden".
'Simply unacceptable''Simply unacceptable'
"In short, Britain will continue to decide on its own foreign policy and where we agree with others there can be a common European role in helping to deliver it," he said."In short, Britain will continue to decide on its own foreign policy and where we agree with others there can be a common European role in helping to deliver it," he said.
But ex-Army officer and Tory MP Tobias Ellwood said the need for unanimous agreement meant the EU would end up not sending troops anywhere. But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the government itself had fought against many of the defence policy provisions now in the treaty.
Despite the hysteria being whipped up by some, the changes wrought by the treaty involve no new powers for Brussels Edward DaveyLib Dems foreign affairs Britain cannot have two best friends when it comes to defence Liam FoxConservatives
And shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the government itself had fought against many of the defence policy provisions now in the treaty.
He said Jack Straw, when he was foreign secretary, had said it was "simply unacceptable" for proposals made by the EU foreign minister to be agreed by qualified majority voting.He said Jack Straw, when he was foreign secretary, had said it was "simply unacceptable" for proposals made by the EU foreign minister to be agreed by qualified majority voting.
And he said the provisions in the treaty for the UN Security Council could be "the thin end of a wedge". And shadow defence secretary Liam Fox raised concerns that the treaty would undermine Nato.
Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown believed the European Commission would eventually act as the "voice of all member states" in the UN, Mr Hague told MPs. The "creeping" powers of the EU in foreign and defence policy, he said, "gradually erode our ability to be masters of our own destiny" and would "drive a wedge" between Britain and its transatlantic allies.
"Since the prime minister decided to make him the minister for UN reform, who knows where this might lead in the future," he added. "Britain cannot have two best friends when it comes to defence. This treaty asks us to make a choice," he said.
But Edward Davey, for the Liberal Democrats, said Mr Hague reminded him of his old scout master who had "a great capacity for telling scary ghost stories". "The Conservative Party will not weaken our transatlantic bonds. We want the EU to work in partnership with Nato, not compete with Nato."
But Edward Davey, for the Liberal Democrats, said his party broadly welcomed the provisions.
He added: "Despite the hysteria being whipped up by some, the changes wrought by the treaty involve no new powers for Brussels but a simple and sensible reallocation of powers between those responsible for this area of policy.He added: "Despite the hysteria being whipped up by some, the changes wrought by the treaty involve no new powers for Brussels but a simple and sensible reallocation of powers between those responsible for this area of policy.
"Foreign and security policy remains, as it always has been, in the control of member states. Britain controls its veto on all key decisions.""Foreign and security policy remains, as it always has been, in the control of member states. Britain controls its veto on all key decisions."
And Labour's former Europe minister Denis MacShane accused the Conservatives of having "the most rejectionist, isolationist position on partnership in Europe ever seen by any party in the history of this country".