European Security Policy (Hansard, 19 October 1992)

HC Deb 19 October 1992 vol 212 c32W 32W

§ Mr. Cash
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he will propose to the structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the light of the implementation of a common European security policy by article. J1 of the treaty on European union.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The position of the United Kingdom as a signatory of the North Atlantic treaty will not be affected by a common foreign and security policy. The Maastricht treaty (article J.4.4) makes it clear that the common foreign and security policyshall respect the obligations of certain member states under the North Atlantic treaty and be compatible with the common security and defence policy established within that framework.