The European Council decided to participate in the international efforts to restore stability to Afghanistan, based on the recent Bonn conference setting up an interim administration there and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
This is an important decision affirming the EU's readiness to assume crisis-management responsibilities in Afghanistan and provide humanitarian and development assistance. But it has been subject to varying interpretations in the member-states, according to their existing military and political commitments to the US-led campaign there.
The summit conclusions steer a careful route through this discussion, which was provoked by the Belgian foreign minister, Mr Louis Michel, who in a briefing last Friday somewhat over-stated its significance and the joint military commitment involved.
The conclusions say the EU "encourages the deployment of an international security force", which should be mandated by the Security Council, "to contribute to the security of Afghan and international administrations established in Kabul and surrounding areas and the establishment and training of new Afghan security and armed forces".
It goes on to say the EU member-states "are examining their contributions to such a force" and that it will provide a "strong signal of their resolve to better assume their crisis-management responsibilities" and help to stabilise Afghanistan.
Thus national decision-making about how to participate is recognised, but within a framework of a political commitment to participate in restoring stability to Afghanistan. This is coupled with a pledge to provide substantial aid and funds for reconstruction there.
In a related development, the summit declared that the EU's security and defence policy has now become operational for several functions.
This means the EU's Rapid Reaction Force can be deployed on a limited basis. The summit stressed that "the member-states have made voluntary contributions to the force on the basis of national decisions. The development of military capabilities does not imply the creation of a European army".
Ireland has committed 800 troops to the force, but the Government says they would not be deployed in any particular operation without Oireachtas approval and a UN mandate.
Greece is still refusing to lift its opposition to the EU sharing assets with NATO until recent NATO undertakings given to Turkey about consultation over where the Rapid Reaction Force would be used are clarified. In a NATO agreement brokered by Britain and the United States, Turkey was offered such consultation, with the implication that the force would not be used in Turkey's area. This helped shift Turkey's attitude to an agreement in Cyprus, which would ease its EU accession - and that of Turkey.
The summit strongly backed Mr Yasser Arafat's role as Israel's negotiating partner, "both to eradicate terrorism and to work towards peace".
It affirmed Israel's inalienable right to live in peace and security within internationally recognised borders and the establishment of a viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state.
It called on the Palestinian Authority to dismantle terrorist networks run by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, arrest and prosecute all such suspects and appeal in Arabic for an end to the armed intifada. It called on Israel to withdraw its military forces, stop extra-judicial executions, lift closures and restrictions on the Palestinian people, freeze settlements and end operations directed against Palestinian infrastructure.
The EU is prepared to play an active role in third-party monitoring operations.
The summit underlined closer EU relations with Russia.
It supported African peace and development initiatives, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Concern was expressed about the situation in Zimbabwe and Mr Mugabe was urged to heed provisions of the Cotonou agreement about elections and land-purchase agreements.
Under the heading of development aid it recalls that the European Commission has been asked to report on the effects of globalisation and especially on debt reduction and alternative ways of financing development.
That arose from an Ecofin meeting last September to discuss the Tobin Tax on financial transactions. The Belgian prime minister, Mr Verhofstadt, has been actively engaged in debates about globalisation with many of its critics during his country's EU presidency.
A lively book containing many of these exchanges was presented to all those attending this summit.
