Italy proposes new EU constitution
The Italian Government has reportedly published a new draft EU Constitution that takes account of the concerns of neutral nations in relation to a proposed EU defence pact.
Ireland and a number of other countries had expressed opposition to a clause in the previous draft that would have obliged all EU member states to come to the aid of another in the event of an armed attack.
Italy has reportedly changed the wording to ensure that the mutual defence pact would not affect "the specific character of the security and defence policy of some member states".
The Department of Foreign Affairs was examining the text last night to establish if it would exempt Ireland from the proposed defence pact.
