HC Deb 11 July 2000 vol 353 cc476-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library the paper referred to in section II. A. 1 of the first annexe of the Feira Presidency conclusions. [129811]

Mr. Vaz

Yes.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason, in Annexe 1 of the Feira Presidency conclusions, DSACEUR rather than SACEUR will be consulted on the headline goal; and if he will make a statement on the proposed involvement of the United States Government. [129919]

Mr. Vaz

DSACEUR operates under the overall command of SACEUR. NATO has made DSACEUR the focal point within the Alliance for issues relating to ESDI. Given DSACEUR's European responsibilities, he can make an important contribution to NATO input to the elaboration of the EU's Headline Goal.

The decisions taken at the Feira European Council will ensure effective transparency and dialogue between NATO and the EU, particular EU/NATO Working Groups on security, capability goals, EU access to NATO assets and permanent EU/NATO structures. The United States Government will be fully involved in this process. President Clinton has welcomed the Feira Conclusions.