§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to ensure a continuation of democratic scrutiny by delegates from the national parliaments of the member and associate member states of the Western European Union following its being subsumed into the European Union. [109950]
§ Mr. VazThe European Union is still considering the modalities for the inclusion of those functions of the WEU necessary for the EU to fulfil its new responsibilities in588W international crisis management. No decisions have been taken in the EU or WEU on the future of the WEU Assembly.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what political structures are planned to implement the common foreign and security policy provisions of the Helsinki European Council agreement. [109955]
§ Mr. VazThe report to the Helsinki European Council on strengthening the common European policy on security and defence called for a standing Political and Security Committee to be established, and, as an interim measure, for an interim political and security committee to be set up. It called for appropriate structures to be established for dialogue and information on issues related to security and defence policy and crisis management with European NATO members who are not members of the EU and other countries who are candidates for accession to the EU.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes in European Union political institutions are planned in order to implement the common foreign and security policies agreed at the Helsinki European Council. [109951]
§ Mr. VazThe Helsinki European Council adopted conclusions and a report on strengthening the common European policy on security and defence. These do not address the roles of the institutions of the European Union.