"What September 11 did was to crystallise the need, and focus the political will, to deal with the world's problems"

The European Union has become stronger since the terrorist attacks of September 11, foreign secretary Jack Straw claimed on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Centre for European Reform, Straw argued that the EU had become stronger in the areas of national security and anti-terrorism since the terrorist outrages of September 11.

"What September 11 did was to crystallise the need, and focus the political will, to deal with the world's problems. Just as pooling our sovereignty in the EU has made huge differences to the lives of people at home, I believe we can improve the lives of people all over the world by pooling our influence with our EU partners," he said.

Straw said Italy's decision to oppose the EU-wide arrest warrant proved his point that sovereignty had not been lost as a result of further integration.

"We do not always get exactly what we want in the EU. Being part of the EU does not mean that 14 other countries automatically fall into line behind the British position. We have to negotiate, and sometimes we have to compromise. But there can be no doubt that in one area after another, the EU gives us greater strength to look after the interests of the British people," he said.

"It is only euro-sceptics and arch-federalists who get hung up on the shape of the institutions as an end in themselves...Fundamentally, the EU is a means to an end - consisting of security and prosperity. This is perhaps clearer than ever at a time when both our security, and our prosperity have come under attack."

Straw also detailed the government's aims for the Laeken summit, saying ministers wanted to see a convention established to examine the scope for improvement in the EU's structures.

"Our vision is of an EU which can use these capabilities, together with existing economic, development, trade, justice and home affairs policies, to play a role from the first reaction to a crisis right through to rehabilitation and reconstruction," he said.