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NAPLES, Italy - France, Britain and Germany won broad support Saturday for a plan to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities, but EU countries failed to reach agreement on whether the EU constitution should mention God or include a reference to Europe's Christian heritage.
EU foreign ministers welcomed the defense plan as a major achievement in efforts to map out an independent military role for the European Union while keeping NATO as the continent's primary defender. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini called the deal "a major step forward" for the European Union.
However, the ministers said the carefully worded plan, which includes a guarantee of mutual assistance and a scaled-down headquarters, still needs Washington's blessing.
The United States has long been wary of European defense initiatives, worried they could erode NATO, which has formed the backbone of European defense since World War II. Britain, in particular, has been concerned about how Washington would view the adoption of a common European defense strategy.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the plan does not sideline NATO. "Everybody now recognizes the primacy" of NATO, he said as the ministers wrapped up the latest round of negotiations on the European Union's first constitution.
In other areas, ministers made little headway during the two days of talks in Naples. With the deadline for the final draft just two weeks away, EU nations remain deeply divided over a number of issues, including whether the constitution should include a reference to God or Christianity. EU nations also remain at odds over how the bloc will make common decisions on foreign policy, with small nations worried about ceding power to larger ones.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer cautioned Europe "will pay a bitter price" if no constitution is adopted that will make the bloc more manageable after it grows to 25 members next May.
France, Germany and Britain proposed a permanent EU military planning and command cell at NATO's military headquarters in Belgium where EU planners - with the alliance's backing - can use NATO planes, satellite intelligence and communications network for peacekeeping missions.
The Europeans would also have a long-term, strategic planning unit at the EU head office in Brussels, Belgium. It could plan for independent European military operations similar to the French-led EU peacekeeping operation in the Congo this year.
Not all EU members would have to participate.
The proposed defense plan also includes a mutual defense guarantee saying if an EU state "is the victim of an armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall" come to its aid.
With the agreement, the 15 members of the European Union and the 10 nations slated to join in May will be able to endorse a common defense strategy at a Dec. 12-13 summit even though some details of the policy must still be resolved, French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin said.
The EU leaders face long hours of debate on other issues.
Still unresolved is whether to mention Europe's Christian heritage or God in the constitution. Secular France opposes that, as do Denmark and Belgium. Predominantly Roman Catholic nations - Ireland, Italy, Spain and Poland - want such a reference.
There was also disagreement on how to make decisions on EU foreign policy.