§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his contribution to the debate at the WEU Council of 10 May on European Defence and Security after Amsterdam; what(a) matters and (b) documents were discussed; and what decisions were taken. [85523]
§ Mr. George RobertsonI was unable to attend the WEU Council meeting on 10 May because of Defence Questions in the House and was therefore represented by a Senior official from my Department. I was present at the session on 11 May.
One of the major points of business was continuing the process of informal reflection on European security and defence issues, initiated at the WEU meeting in Rome last November. Particular points emphasised in the discussion included: the need to rectify shortfalls in European military capability; the need to strengthen the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, including by giving the EU the means to decide on military matters and take political control of crisis management operations; the importance of involving the non-EU European Allies, and the Associate Partners, in future arrangements; and the continuing importance of NATO as the cornerstone of European security and defence policy. No documents were considered or decisions taken on these matters. A number of papers relating to other aspects of WEU business were noted or endorsed by Ministers at their meetings.
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