§ Lord Ponsonby of Shulbredeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will report on the agenda of the Prime Minister's visit to Madrid between 8 and 9 July for the NATO Summit.
§ Lord RichardMy right honourable friend the Prime Minister plans to join the other NATO Heads of Government in Madrid on 8 July. We will discuss the enlargement of NATO and expect to announce that a small number of countries should be invited to begin accession negotiations. We would be content for the number of countries to be set at three. We will also review progress on the development of the European Security and Defence Identity in NATO, following the decision taken by NATO Foreign Ministers at Berlin in 1996; and on the development of a new NATO Command Structure.
On 9 July we will sign with President Kuchma of Ukraine the NATO/Ukraine Charter, which will symbolise Ukraine's importance to European security and provide for increased NATO/Ukraine co-operation.
Heads of Government will also discuss greater co-operation with NATO's partner countries in the EURO-Atlantic Partnership Council, including military co-operation through NATO's programme of Partnership for Peace.