HL Deb 18 February 1999 vol 597 c88WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect that the European Union's Policy Planning and Early Warning Units (PPU) and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) High Representative will be in post and fully functioning. [HL962]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Vienna European Council on 11–12 December last year agreed that the High Representative should be appointed at the Cologne European Council (3–4 June). He or she will be expected to take up the post as soon as possible thereafter. The Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit will be set up once the High Representative is appointed.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the European Union's Policy Planning and Early Warning Units (PPU) will have sufficient personnel and resources, and a strong enough mandate, to analyse the impact on vulnerable countries of the aid, trade, military and arms export policies of the European Union member states, and to be able to make effective recommendations, in particular for conflict prevention. [HL963]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The staffing of the Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit will be decided when the High Representative is appointed. One of the tasks of the Unit will be to establish appropriate co-operation with the Commission in order to ensure full coherence with the European Union's external economic and development policies.