Common EU Foreign and Security Policy

HC Deb 28 November 2000 vol 357 cc540-1W

Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on UK-US relations of the creation of(a) a common EU foreign and security policy and (b) an EU Rapid Reaction Force. [140145]

Mr. Vaz

I can do no better than to quote the US Secretary of State's statement of 20 November.

Mrs. Albright described that day's Capabilities Commitment Conference in Brussels, where EU nations offered to make troops available for EU-led operations, as a strongly positive development we wholly support.

She noted that the US, along with other Allies, are working closely with the European Union to make this initiative a success and to create a true strategic partnership between two key Western institutions—NATO and the European Union. Creation of this capability promises to improve Europe's ability to act in ways that will strengthen European and transatlantic security.