§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there are plans for a European Union or European security and defence identity-wide official think-tank to underpin the Common Foreign and Defence Policy with appropriate research; and, if so, what would be its scope and remit. [HL4156]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Declaration on the Establishment of a Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit, annexed to the Amsterdam Treaty, provided for a unit to be established in the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union to monitor and analyse developments in areas relevant to the Common Foreign and Security Policy; provide assessments of the Union's foreign and security policy interests and identify areas where the Common Foreign and Security Policy could focus in future; provide timely assessments and early warnings of events or situations which may have significant repercussions for the Union's foreign and security policy; and produce argued options papers to be presented under the responsibility of the Presidency as a contribution to policy formulation in the Council which may contain analyses, recommendations and strategies for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The establishment of the unit has been timed to coincide with the assumption of functions of the Secretary General of the Council and High Representative. It is expected to become operational in the coming weeks.