§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Annex to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council held in Helsinki relating to three new military committees under that Council,(a) what is the specific purpose of each and how it relates to the others, (b) what instructions have been sent by the Council to the Secretary General or High Representative of each in respect of his function and duties and (c) what the lines of accountability are. [105131]
§ Mr. VazI have been asked to reply.
The Helsinki European Council set the framework for the political and military structures that will be necessary for the EU to decide and act on security and defence matters. These bodies are a standing Political and Security Committee (which will handle the full range of Common Foreign and Security Policy issues), the Military Committee and the Military Staff. The incoming Portuguese Presidency was tasked, together with the EU Secretary General/High Representative, to 535W carry this work forward. The terms of reference, guidance and accountability for each body will thus be developed in due course.