There have been sharp clashes at the Convention on the Future of Europe over how the European Union's foreign policy role should develop.
Most representatives favoured an enhanced foreign policy role for the EU and many called for the Commission to be given charge of developing a common policy towards the rest of the world.
But the Irish and British governments insisted that foreign policy must remain the preserve of national governments and that a common policy must be agreed between those governments.
The Government's submission said that, while the effectiveness of joint action could be improved, Brussels must not attempt to take control of foreign policy.
"Foreign policy remains closely identified with national sovereignty for all member-states, large and small, in military alliances or otherwise. The legitimacy and ownership of EU foreign policy can best be assured by its remaining primarily intergovernmental " it said.
The British Minister for Europe, Mr Peter Hain, said that the EU's foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, should be given a bigger role and should chair meetings of EU foreign ministers. But he rejected calls for the Commission to be given a leading role in foreign policy.
"If you don't have the confidence of the heads of government, you won't have a common voice. That, I'm afraid is the brutal truth," he said.
Mr Hain said that the United States regarded the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy as the only really important European foreign policy players.
The former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, who is a member of the Convention's agenda-setting praesidium, said that Washington's increasingly unilateralist foreign policy heightened the need for European states to work more closely together to confront external threats.
"I hope that my country, Ireland, notwithstanding its sporadic rhetorical neutralism, will accept without reserve all its responsibilities in the development of common foreign and security policy, " he said.
The Dublin MEP, Mr Pronnsias De Rossa, said that a common European defence policy should be based on the principles outlined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.
"It must be a policy designed to produce peace, stability and development. What is required is a mix of objectives and capabilities which can enable the EU to prevent conflict where possible."
