HC Deb 15 July 2002 vol 389 c23W
30. Roger Casale

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on improving defence capabilities among European partner countries in the last three years. [66990]

Mr. Hoon

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones).

18. Mr. Kevan Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in improving defence capabilities among other allied European countries in the last three years. [66975]

Mr. Hoon

We are working within both NATO and EU structures to improve European defence capabilities. NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative has made significant progress in a number of areas since its launch in 1999. The creation of new High Readiness Force headquarters shows that, with sufficient commitment, allies can make real improvements in capabilities. In parallel, contributions from EU member states have so far met 104 of the 144 capability requirements underpinning the Helsinki Headline Goal agreed in December 1999. The remaining targets are being addressed through the European Capabilities Action Plan.

We expect to launch a new capabilities initiative at the Prague summit in November. This will be designed to be more focused than DCI; to incorporate clear commitments from allies to making good key capability shortfalls, and to complement the EU's Headline Goal process.