This proposal has provoked a substantial amount of opposition within the Convention. Reservations have been expressed, not only by neutral and non-aligned countries, including Ireland, but also by some EU partners which see their security and defence requirements being best and most satisfactorily met through their membership of NATO. However, a decision to move at some stage in the future to a common defence would still continue to be a matter for the European Council, acting unanimously and in accordance with member states' constitutional requirements.