-operation;
- to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
3. The Union shall pursue these objectives;
- by establishing systematic co-operation between Member States in
the conduct of policy, in accordance with Article J.2;
- by gradually implementing, in accordance with Article J.3, joint action
in the areas in which the Member States have important interests in
common.
4. The Member States shall support the Union's external and security
policy actively and unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty and mutual
solidarity. They shall refrain from any action which is contrary to the
interests of the Union or likely to impair its effectiveness as a
cohesive force in international relations. The Council shall ensure that
these principles are complied with.

ARTICLE J.2
1. Member States shall inform and consult one another within the
Council on any matter of foreign and security policy of general interest
in order to ensure that their combined influence is exerted as
effectively as possible by means of concerted and convergent action.
2. Whenever it deems it necessary, the Council shall define a common
position.
Member States shall ensure that their national policies conform on the
common positions.
3. Member States shall co-ordinate their action in international
organizations and at international conferences. They shall uphold the
common positions in such fora.
In international organizations and at international conferences where
not all the Member States participate, those which do take part shall
uphold the common positions.

ARTICLE J.3
The procedure for adopting joint action in matters covered by foreign
and security policy shall be the following:
1. The Council shall decide, on the basis of general guidelines from
the European Council, that a matter should be the subject of joint
action.
Whenever the Council decides on the principle of joint action, it shall
lay down the specific scope, the Union's general and specific
objectives in carrying out such action, if necessary its duration, and
the means, procedures and conditions for its implementation.
2. The Council shall, when adopting the joint action and at any stage
during its development, define those matters on which decisions are
to be taken by a qualified majority.
Where the Council is required to act by a qualified majority pursuant to
the preceding subparagraph, the votes of its members shal