European Security and Defence Policy: NATO Access

HL Deb 19 March 2001 vol 623 c121WA

Lord Shore of Stepney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To which assets and capabilities belonging to NATO the European Union is seeking guaranteed access, as stated in Section (2) of the appendix to Annex 7 of the Presidency Report to the Nice Council on the European Security and Defence Policy. [HL964]

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale

The European Union seeks guaranteed access to NATO's planning capabilities, so that NATO planners can contribute to the EU's examination of strategic military options and so that NATO can provide operational planning for an EU-led operation using NATO assets and capabilities. This is set out in Section (1) of the appendix to Annex VII. The EU is not seeking guaranteed access to any other NATO assets and capabilities. NATO intends to put in place arrangements to provide for the presumption of availability of other NATO capabilities and common assets. This means NATO will in principle be ready to provide such support, but will decide case-by-case on the release of assets for an EU-led operation.