European clout

In her first major security policy speech since assuming office as the diplomatic director of the European Union, Ashton said the EU should combine its soft and hard power to take responsibility on the international stage.

"We must mobilize all our levers of influence - political, economic, plus civil and military crisis management tools - in support of a single political strategy."

Ashton made the comments at the Munich Security Conference, a a gathering of the world's top defense officials.

"The days when a common EU foreign policy was regarded as mere talk are numbered," she said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Ashton's post as EU foreign minister was created in December 2009 by the Lisbon reform treaty to give the bloc a more coherent international voice.

Ashton said the Lisbon Treaty signalled a "significant change of pace."

International credibility

Ashton said the EU should break down the traditional separation between for instance peacekeeping and development work or domestic and foreign police.

"There cannot be sustainable development without peace and security. And without development and poverty eradication there will be no sustainable peace," she said.

Ashton called for the EU to continue its focus on Southern and Eastern Europe to further stabilize the Balkans but also include former Soviet neighbors such as Ukraine and Georgia.

"We know that we in the EU have primary responsibility for our neighbourhood. This is important in itself but our wider international credibility also depends on the work we do with our neighbours," she said.

At the same time, Ashton urged for "strengthening partnerships with what we somewhat misleadingly call the 'new powers': China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia."

Westerwelle backs European army

Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Munich also called for the EU to "live up to its role as global player."

"The long-term goal is the establishment of a European army under full parliamentary control. The EU must be able to respond quickly, flexibly and to take a united stand," Westerwelle said.

"We want strong European crisis management. This is not intended to replace other security structures. More Europe is not a strategy directed against anyone. No one has any reason to fear Europe, but everyone should be able to depend on Europe."

The concept of a European army has been set out in the EU's Lisbon reform treaty.

ai/AFP/dpa
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar