HC Deb 08 November 2000 vol 356 cc279-80W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the US Administration on the further development of(a) European Security and Defence Identity and (b) European Security and Defence Policy. [137201]

Mr. Vaz

President Clinton welcomed the outcome of the Feira European Council regarding the European Security and Defence Policy in a statement on 20 June 2000. Speaking at the NATO Informal Defence Ministerial at Birmingham on 10 October 2000, Defence Secretary Cohen said that the US agrees with the Helsinki Headline Goalnot grudgingly, not with resignation, but with whole-hearted conviction.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a method for involving non-EU allies into the process for the elaboration of the Headline and Capability Goals has been established; and if he will make a statement. [137200]

Mr. Vaz

Non-EU European allies and candidates for accession to the EU have been encouraged to make additional contributions to the Headline Goal target. The European Council at Feira welcomed initial declarations of intent to contribute. Defence Ministers of those countries will have the opportunity to announce offers to make forces available to EU-led crisis management operations in meetings with Defence Ministers of EU member states on 21 November. These offers will be additional to the Headline Goal, which is for EU member states alone to achieve.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the scope of the(a) European Security and Defence Identity, (b) Common European Security and Defence Policy and (c) European Security and Defence Policy. [137073]

Mr. Vaz

The European Security and Defence Identity refers to the arrangements established within NATO for the Alliance to support European-led crisis management operations.

The Common European Security and Defence Policy (also known as the European Security and Defence Policy) refers to the arrangements established within the EU for the EU to have the capacity to undertake conflict prevention and crisis management tasks. ESDP is being developed in close co-operation with NATO.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the(a) role and (b) composition is of the European Military Committee; and what representation it has within (a) NATO and (b) other EU bodies. [137109]

Mr. Vaz

The Nice European Council is likely to take decisions on establishing permanent political and military bodies including an EU Military Committee. The EU Military Committee will give military advice on questions relating to crisis management operations. It will be composed of Chiefs of Defence Staff of the member states. Day-to-day business will be carried out by national military representatives, who may be double hatted with military representatives at NATO. The Chairman of the Military Committee will attend the Political and Security Committee and meetings of the Council when decisions with defence implications are to be taken.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made in setting up co-operation and co-ordination mechanisms involving non-EU NATO members in the ESDI/P framework. [137075]

Mr. Vaz

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 25 October 2000,Official Report, column 148W.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) ESDI and (b) ESDP actions will be subject to a veto by any NATO member state. [137074]

Mr. Vaz

All decisions on ESDI in NATO and on ESDP in the EU are taken by consensus. EU decisions are taken by EU member states only.