HL Deb 20 March 2001 vol 623 cc141-3WA
Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 February (WA 105)

(a) Whether the United Kingdom is free to disassociate itself from the "suggestion" contained in the Appendix to Annex VII of the French Presidency Report on the European Security and Defence Policy, and if so, whether it will do so; and

(b) Whether NATO and/or the United States will have a veto on proposed European Security and Defence Policy activities. [HL1058)

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

(a) Her Majesty's Government support the suggestions in the Appendix to Annex VII of the Presidency report to Nice concerning the implementation of "Berlin Plus" arrangements. These suggestions are the EU's initial contribution to further work in NATO and the EU. We look forward to further discussions of these arrangements, in which the UK will play an active role.

(b) EU member states would decide to launch an EU-led operation. This would happen following consultation with NATO. The EU would act only where NATO as a whole is not engaged. In practice, this means that the EU will act only when NATO has decided not to.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 February (WA 105):

(a) What are the "Berlin Plus arrangements"; and

(b) Whether NATO agreed to make "lift" and intelligence available for European Security and Defence Policy activities at the European Union's request; and

(c) When they expect the "detailed arrangements" to be worked out by the European Union and NATO, and whether these will be submitted to Parliament for approval. [HL1059]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

(a) "Berlin Plus" refers to the arrangements proposed by NATO at the 1999 Washington Summit for the EU to have access to the collective assets and capabilities of the Alliance for EU-led operations. These arrangements build on the similar arrangements for the WEU to use NATO assets and capabilities which were agreed in 1996 at NATO's Berlin Summit.

(b) NATO will take case-by-case decisions on which assets to make available to the EU.

(c) We hope to conclude the arrangements for implementing "Berlin Plus" in the course of this year. EU Council decisions concerning the EU/NATO agreements will be submitted for parliamentary scrutiny in the normal way.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 February (WA 105), whether the United Kingdom will be free of its own accord:

(a) To avoid participation in any European Union-led operation; and

(b) To withdraw from any operation once it is under way. [HL1060]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The commitment of national resources to, and their withdrawal from, an EU-led operation is a sovereign decision for the nation concerned.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 February (WA 105), what are the "elements of the remanent consultation arrangements" which have now been agreed by the European Union and NATO. [HL1061]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The EU proposals on EU-NATO permanent arrangements for consultation and co-operation (Annex VII to the Nice Presidency Report) together with the proposals in paragraph 31 of the NATO Foreign Ministers' communiqué in December 2000 constitute the elements of the permanent consultation arrangements. This was agreed in an exchange of letters between the NATO Secretary-General and the Chairman of the Council of the European Union. I have put a copy of this exchange in the Library of the House.

Lord Blaker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 February (WA 105), whether they will set out the elements of the permanent consultation arrangements agreed by the European Union and NATO for the European Union-led operations within the arrangements agreed at the recent Nice Conference. [HL1074]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The EU proposals on EU-NATO permanent arrangements for consultation and co-operation (Annex II to the Nice Presidency Report) together with the proposals in paragraph 31 of the NATO Foreign Ministers' communiqué in December 2000 constitute the elements of the permanent consultation arrangements. This was agreed in an exchange of letters between the NATO Secretary-General and the Chairman of the Council of the European Union. I have put a copy of this exchange in the Library of the House.