HC Deb 13 January 1986 vol 89 c474W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the extent to which the treaty of Rome permits the EEC to participate in defence issues.

Mr. Renton

Defence issues as such do not fall within the scope of the treaty of Rome. Political and economic aspects of European security are discussed among the EC member states in the political co-operation framework. Such discussions are also covered in the treaty on European co-operation in the sphere of foreign policy, which was agreed in principle at the Luxembourg European Council (2–3 December 1985). But European defence co-operation is handled in other fora, including NATO, Eurogroup, Western European Union, the Independent European Programme Group, as well as directly between national Governments.