A DEFENCE identity for the EU may have moved a step closer this week with the Commission's call on member states to aid the "ailing European arms industry, writes Patrick Smyth in Strasbourg.
The Commission has approved a communication" from the Industry Commissioner, Mr Martin Bangemann, and the Foreign Affairs Commissioner, Mr Hans van den Broek. This urges member states to allow more of the industry to function under EU competition rules. It also seeks better coordination with Nato of so called "dual use" research programmes - civilian research with military uses in areas such as radar.
The report also proposes EU talks with the US to redress the arms trade imbalance by ensuring reciprocal access to its market and measures to facilitate intraEU trade.
Diplomatic sources suggest Ireland and the neutral states will want to examine closely the detail and implications of the proposals, although they stress that the main thrust of the package does not appear to have direct implications for neutrality.
It is a view unlikely to be shared by the peace movement and neutrality lobby, but the Government will be reluctant to be seen to obstruct measures aimed at saving jobs in fellow member states.
The proposal that the EU should have common export rules may even dovetail, one Irish source suggests, with Irish hopes to see increased international controls on the sale of conventional weapons - precisely the reason why such proposals may not be backed by some of the Nato member states.
Germany's own rules, for example, prohibit sales to Saudi Arabia, while Britain has just signed the biggest defence contract in its history with that kingdom.
The communication is a response by the Commission to concern at the dramatic fall in jobs in arms production and fears that Europe's ability to compete on the world market is being eroded by protectionist measures by member states.
Between 1984 and 1992 direct and indirect employment in EU arms production has fallen from 1.6 million to one million. Output, at around £40 billion a year, represents a full 2 per cent of EU industrial production.
The Commission warns that the Maastricht Treaty aspiration to a common European defence will be jeopardised if the EU cannot hold on to its technological base and market share. "Maintaining and securing a competitive European defence related industry is . . . a precondition for a European defence and security", the communication argues, insisting that the industry is "clearly a field where European wide policy measures are urgently needed".