§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with other members of the European Union on developing a peacekeeping and crisis management policy. [81428]
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§ Mr. George RobertsonIn the context of the debate on further arrangements for European security and defence launched by the Prime Minister last autumn, European Union Member States have agreed to strengthen the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including through the development of a security and defence capacity. EU activities envisaged in this field are set out in the Amsterdam Treaty, and include humanitarian and rescue tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking. I have had a variety of discussions with all EU partners, and NATO Allies on the means by which we might give effect to this.