The Nordic Countries and the European Security and Defence Policy

396 THE NORDIC COUNTRIES AND THE ESDP(a) safeguard its values, fundamental interests,security, independence and integrity;(b) consolidate and support democracy, therule of law, human rights and the principles ofinternational law;(c) preserve peace, prevent conflicts andstrengthen international security, in accordancewith the purposes and principles of theUnited Nations Charter, with the principles ofthe Helsinki Final Act and with the aims of theCharter of Paris, including those relating toexternal borders;(d) foster the sustainable economic, socialand environmental development of developingcountries, with the primary aim of eradicatingpoverty;(e) encourage the integration of all countriesinto the world economy, including through theprogressive abolition of restrictions on internationaltrade;(f) help develop international measures topreserve and improve the quality of the environmentand the sustainable management ofglobal natural resources, in order to ensuresustainable development;(g) assist populations, countries and regionsconfronting natural or man-made disasters;(h) promote an international system basedon stronger multilateral cooperation and goodglobal governance.3. The Union shall respect the principlesand pursue the objectives set out in paragraphs1 and 2 in the development and implementationof the different areas of the Union’sexternal action covered by this Title and theexternal aspects of its other policies.The Union shall ensure consistency betweenthe different areas of its external action andbetween these and its other policies. TheCouncil and the Commission, assisted by theUnion Minister for Foreign Affairs, shallensure that consistency and shall cooperate tothat effect.Article III-2931. On the basis of the principles and objectivesset out in Article III-292, the European Councilshall identify the strategic interests andobjectives of the Union.European decisions of the European Councilon the strategic interests and objectives ofthe Union shall relate to the common foreignand security policy and to other areas of theexternal action of the Union. Such decisionsmay concern the relations of the Union with aspecific country or region or may be thematicin approach. They shall define their duration,and the means to be made available by theUnion and the Member States.The European Council shall act unanimouslyon a recommendation from the Council,adopted by the latter under the arrangementslaid down for each area. European decisionsof the European Council shall be implementedin accordance with the proceduresprovided for in the Constitution.2. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs,for the area of common foreign and securitypolicy, and the Commission, for other areas ofexternal action, may submit joint proposals tothe Council.Chapter II. Common foreign and securitypolicySection 1. Common provisionsArticle III-2941. In the context of the principles and objectivesof its external action, the Union shalldefine and implement a common foreign andsecurity policy covering all areas of foreignand security policy.2. The Member States shall support thecommon foreign and security policy activelyand unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty andmutual solidarity.The Member States shall work together toenhance and develop their mutual politicalsolidarity. They shall refrain from any actionwhich is contrary to the interests of the Unionor likely to impair its effectiveness as a cohesiveforce in international relations.The Council and the Union Minister forForeign Affairs shall ensure that these principlesare complied with.3. The Union shall conduct the commonforeign and security policy by:(a) defining the general guidelines;(b) adopting European decisions defining:(i) actions to be undertaken by the Union;(ii) positions to be taken by the Union;(iii) arrangements for the implementation ofthe European decisions referred to in points (i)and (ii);