§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his French counterpart about the application of qualified majority voting to EU(a) foreign policy and (b) defence policy. [139476]
§ Mr. HoonI have had regular contact with the French Defence Minister and last met him at the Capability Commitment Conference on 20 and 21 November.
We have always agreed that decisions to launch military crisis management operations must be taken by the member states by consensus. The commitment of UK national assets to any European Union-led crisis management operation will be based on the sovereign decision of the UK Government.
Foreign policy is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.