HC Deb 13 December 1999 vol 341 cc26-7W
34. Mr. MacShane

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the European strategic defence initiative. [100987]

36. Mr. Ernie Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the European security and defence identity. [100989]

Mr. Hoon

At the Helsinki European Council, EU member states committed themselves to strengthening their military capabilities so that European nations will be able to assemble, deploy rapidly and sustain more effective forces for specific NATO or EU-led operations. EU member states also agreed to develop the military structures necessary for the EU to decide and act on crisis management operations.

These aims are complementary to work under way in NATO and the Western European Union, all of which will have the effect of strengthening the European contribution to NATO.