European Security (Hansard, 19 May 2000)

§ Mr. Maude
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how associate members and associate partners of the WEU will participate in European Union decisions and actions in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy. [122321]

§ Mr. Vaz
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer he received on 16 May 2000,Official Report, columns 112–13W.

§ Mr. Maude
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the WEU Assembly. [122322]
306W

§ Mr. Vaz
The question of parliamentary oversight of European defence is one we must get right in putting into practice the new defence arrangements within the EU. We are still considering the options.

§ Mr. Maude
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the WEU Assembly proposal to transform the Assembly into a European Security and Defence Assembly. [122320]

§ Mr. Vaz
The WEU Assembly's Lisbon Initiative has made an important contribution to the discussion of the appropriate parliamentary framework to support the new defence structures.