formation, carrying
out joint assessments and contributing to the implementation of the
provisions referred to in Article 8c of the Treaty establishing the
European Community.

ARTICLE J.7
The Presidency shall consult the European Parliament on the main
aspects and the basic choices of the common foreign and security
policy and shall ensure that the views of the European Parliament are
duly taken into consideration. The European Parliament shall be kept
regularly informed by the Presidency and the Commission of the
development of the Union's foreign and security policy.
The European Parliament may ask questions of the Councils or make
recommendations to it. It shall hold an annual debate on progress in
implementing the common foreign and security policy.

ARTICLE J.8
1. The European Council shall define the principles of and general
guidelines for the common foreign and security policy.
2. The Council shall take the decisions necessary for defining and
implementing the common foreign and security policy on the basis of
the general guidelines adopted by the European Council. It shall
ensure the unity, consistency and effectiveness of action by the
Union.
The Council shall act unanimously, except for procedural questions
and in the case referred to in Article J.3(2).
3. Any Member State or the Commission may refer to the Council any
question relating to the common foreign policy and may submit
proposals to the Council.
4. In cases requiring a rapid decision, the Presidency, of its own
motion, or at the request of the Commission or a Member State, shall
convene an extraordinary Council meeting within forty-eight hours or,
in an emergency, within a shorter period.
5. Without prejudice to Article 151 of the Treaty establishing the
European Community, a Political Committee consisting of Political
Directors shall monitor the international situation in the areas covered
by common foreign and security policy and contribute to the definition
of policies by delivering opinions to the Council at the request of the
Council or on its own initiative. It shall also monitor the
implementation of agreed policies, without prejudice to the
responsibility of the Presidency and the Commission.

ARTICLE J.9
The Commission shall be fully associated with the work carried out in
the common foreign and security policy field.

ARTICLE J.10
On the occasion of any review of the security provisions under Article
J.4, the Conference which i