EU is out of loop over Iraq, warns UK’s Lib-Dem leader

Date: 17/10/02

By Martin Banks

NATO and the European Union are not being consulted properly by the United States over the possibility of war against Iraq, the leader of the British Liberal Democrat party has warned.

But Charles Kennedy said that his own country and France were cooperating closely at the military level, even though they rarely made this public.

Kennedy was speaking during a flying visit to Brussels last week, which began with talks at NATO with officials in its secretive weapons of mass destruction unit.

Asked whether NATO would be involved if military action takes place in Iraq, the Scotsman said he - and the officials he had spoken to - were unsure. 'The impression I get is that NATO wants Washington to consult with them more.' He also conceded that the EU is largely out of the loop, saying that one of the lessons of the current international crisis was the need for the EU to develop its common defence policy to unlock the 'log-jam' between member states.

Kennedy, seen in recent polls as the real opposition leader to Tony Blair rather than the Conservative Iain Duncan Smith, added: 'Member states have a key role in ensuring the approach towards Iraq remains international.

'We cannot countenance unilateralism by the US; Europe's influence is a vital counterbalance to the gung-ho views of the hawks in the American administration.'

Stressing that force should only be used as a 'last resort' against Iraq, he said that 'Europe's voice needs to make itself heard more'.

Kennedy, who next week hosts the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party annual conference in the English city of Bath (16-18 October), offered a snapshot of his views on the challenges facing the EU:

The future of Europe: He wants a major shake-up of EU institutions, with all Council of Ministers meetings held in public. The case for this was 'cast-iron', he said, adding: 'At present, the council is like North Korea - there is no accountability whatsoever.'

He stopped short of backing the creation of an EU president, saying this was 'some way off', but backed the idea of a Congress of MEPs and national MPs, proposed by Convention President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

On the role of the Convention, Kennedy said: 'The proposals so far look very encouraging - there has to be more coherence in EU decision-making.'

The euro: He urged UK premier Tony Blair to set a 'clear timetable' for entry and identified 5 June 2003 as the 'obvious' date for a referendum. 'It just happens to be the exact anniversary of the pro-European victory in the 1975 referendum,' he said. 'There is a very good story to be told on the single currency which has not yet been sufficiently told. We have to go out there and sell the advantages of joining the euro: the jobs it will bring, the lower mortgages, cheaper prices and boost to trade.'

Enlargement: Bringing in new member states is a historic opportunity to unite Europe peacefully after generations of division and conflict, Kennedy feels, but he accepts there are 'some anxieties' about how much it will cost.

According to one estimate, the bill will be €25 billion over the first three years.

'There could be some pain, but I am sure it will be worth it. We must be optimistic,' he added.

NATO and the European Union are not being consulted properly by the United States over the possibility of war against Iraq, Charles Kennedy, the leader of the British Liberal Democrat party has warned.