GERMANY, France and nine of Europe's most powerful countries have called for an elected European Union president and an end to Britain's veto over defence policy, in a radical blueprint for the continent's future.

In a document released following a meeting between 11 foreign ministers in Warsaw, the bloc charted a vision for the ''future of Europe''.

As well as calling for a single, elected head of state for Europe, the bloc demanded a new defence policy, under the control of a pan-EU foreign ministry commanded by Baroness Ashton, which ''could eventually involve a European army''.

In order to ''prevent one single member state from being able to obstruct initiatives'', a reference to British opposition to a European army, the German-led group demanded an end to existing national vetoes over foreign and defence policy. This would give the EU the power to impose a decision on Britain if it was supported by a majority of other countries.

The bloc also called for a new European police force patrolling the external borders of the Schengen passport-free zone and a single European visa.