Paris pushes for clearer European defence policy

France will put security and defence at the top of its agenda for the European Union for the next six months when foreign ministers meet today.

The French push for greater unity is partly a response to growing fears about the consequences of conflict in the Balkans, Algeria and the Caucasus, coupled with increasing uncertainty over Russia. France also wants a tougher stance over Chechnya.

Today's meeting will also lay the ground for a new trade and co-operation agreement with Croatia, which it will use as leverage to try to keep Zagreb in line. The Croats have ordered out United Nations peace-keepers and it is hoped that the possibility of more trade and aid will give the EU some negotiating leverage since without it Croatia faces mounting economic and social difficulties.

The stress on foreign policy reflects a growing debate with the EU over how the institutions should reform themselves. Defence and security will be the main issue when members meet to rewrite the Maastricht treaty next year. The preparation of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference will begin today when foreign ministers discuss setting up a group to consider its scope and scale.

France wants Europe to define its security and defence policy through the EU. Though keen not to undermine Nato, it is aware that the United States is less attentive to Europe after the end of the Cold War and the capture of the US Congress by the Republicans.

France is very concerned about security in the Mediterranean, in particular the Algerian crisis and threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

It sent a minister to a Nato defence ministers meeting last year despite being outside the alliance's integrated military structure. It also co-chairs a special Nato group on problems of proliferation.

France will hold a meeting on immigration and judicial matters this week in Paris. A key item will be co-operation between states in the event of a sudden flood of refugees. France, with other states, resisted German requests for burden-sharing when a rapid outflow of refugees followed the wars in the Balkans. But with crisis now threatening in Algeria, France has made it a high priority to ensure that any future exodus is not purely a matter for the Mediterranean countries.

The new Commission also takes office this week, with its formal approval by EU governments today and a swearing-in ceremony in Luxembourg tomorrow.

The Commission is also moving quickly to define its stance on security before the Maastricht treaty is rewritten. The Commission has a very limited role in the Common Foreign and Security Policy, but is trying to change that.

On Friday, Hans van den Broek, the Commissioner for Foreign Policy, will publish a study of security policy which is expected to say that the making of foreign policy is unsatisfactory, and that the other institutions - especially the Commission - shouldplay more of a role. It may also look further ahead to when defence becomes part of the EU.

The French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, told journalists recently that France wanted to use its chairmanship to push for a more cohesive foreign policy. Jacques Delors and Francois Mitterrand, in their farewell speeches to the European Parliament last week, both made a point of calling for a common defence policy.

Sir Leon Brittan, the Trade Commissioner who is also in charge of transatlantic relations, visits Washington this week with Mr Juppe.

Their agenda mainly concerns economic issues and trade, but Sir Leon and Mr Juppe are expected to meet officials dealing with defence, including Anthony Lake from the National Security Council.