The Convention also proposed closer co-operation on mutual defence, which would effectively amount to an interim mutual defence arrangement. It is clearly stated that this would be both optional and on an interim basis – this point is missed in the Fine Gael paper – pending a decision at some stage in the future to establish a common defence. The intention is that participants would be listed in an annexe to the constitutional treaty. The proposal to include a defence arrangement of this kind within the Union, but only for those member states who wish to participate, is clearly not the same as establishing a full EU common defence.