§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which countries the Foreign Secretary has in mind as enemies when he said that Europe will be made "safe and secure" by the new European Union armed force; and how that safety and security will be enhanced above that already provided by NATO. [HL4728]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThere is no "new European Union armed force". European Union nations and others (including European members of NATO and EU candidate countries) are making forces available and improving their capabilities for possible EU-led crisis management operations (e.g. humanitarian relief and peace-keeping). They will act militarily only where NATO as a whole is not engaged. They will not act in collective defence, which remains for NATO. This effort will strengthen NATO. Hence the welcome for the EU's intentions, repeated in recent days, from NATO's Secretary-General and from the US Secretary of State, among others.