§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what aspects of defence policy Baroness Scotland of Asthal was referring when she said, "There is a clear view that a treaty amendment is not necessary" (H.L. Deb., 14 June, col. 1638); how this statement fits with paragraph 36 of the Government's White Paper IGC: Reform far Enlargement; and what is the latest state of play with the European Strategic Defence Initiative. [HL2940]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Feira European Council took note of advice from the Council Legal Service that the conclusions of the Cologne rand Helsinki European Councils regarding European security and defence policy could be implemented without it being necessary to amend the Treaty on European Union. This is consistent with the Government's White PaperIGC: Reform for Enlargement.
Progress within the European Union on European security and defence policy is summarised in the Presidency report to the Feira European Council on strengthening the common European security and defence policy, which has been placed in the Library of the House.