§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the creation of a common European security policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe treaty on European Union provides for a common foreign and security policy that will include the eventual framing of a common European defence policy; and that this and other matters having defence implications are dealt with by the Western European Union. At its meeting in Luxembourg on 9 May this year, the WEU Council of Ministers tasked the Permanent Council to begin work on the formulation of a common European defence policy, with the aim of presenting preliminary conclusions to the Council of Ministers' next meeting in November. To that end, work is in hand in the Permanent Council on an approach to formulating such a policy.