§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the co-ordination required between the Helsinki Initiative in the European Union and the Defence Capabilities Initiative in NATO countries; and if he will make a statement. [26855]
§ Mr. HoonCoherence and transparency between the two initiatives is very good and improvements achieved under either will be mutually beneficial. NATO experts have been closely involved with EU colleagues in work 123W to elaborate, identify and address the capabilities required for the Headline Goal. A large proportion of the capability requirements identified under European Security and Defence Policy, including those where shortfalls remain, are also being addressed by the Defence Capabilities Initiative.