§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature, formation and activities of the Political and Security Committee established at the Cologne Council. [87304]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI have been asked to reply.
The proposal for a Political and Security Committee was made in a Presidency report on strengthening of the common European policy on security and defence to the Cologne European Council. The European Council approved and adopted the report. The report notes that for the EU to decide and conduct effectively the so-called "Petersberg tasks", it may require a permanent body in Brussels (Political and Security Committee) consisting of representatives of member states with political/military expertise. No decisions have yet been taken on the nature, formation and activities of such a Committee.