§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress made in setting up modalities for full consultation, co-operation and transparency between the EU and NATO. [134093]
§ Mr. VazThe Feira European Council proposed to NATO the establishment of four joint EU/NATO "ad-hoc working groups": to discuss the preparation of an EU-NATO Security Arrangement; to exchange information on the elaboration of capability goals; to establish modalities for enabling EU access to NATO assets and capabilities and to define permanent arrangements for EU/NATO consultation. Each of these groups has met and progress is being made on the issues they are addressing. The North Atlantic Council and the EU's interim Political and Security Committee have also met jointly to oversee the work of these groups.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made by the EU in setting up consultation and co-operation links between the EU and(a) NATO's non-EU members, (b) other countries who are candidates for accession to the EU and (c) other prospective partners in EU-led crisis management. [134092]
§ Mr. VazThe Feira European Council established interim arrangements to ensure the necessary dialogue, consultation and co-operation on EU-led crisis management between the European Union and non-EU European NATO members and candidates for accession to the EU. Meetings of the EU's interim Political and Security Committee and the interim Military Body have since been held with the non-EU European NATO members and EU accession candidates.
The French Presidency of the EU is expected to make initial proposals for appropriate arrangements for consultation with other prospective partners at the Nice European Council. It also intends to propose permanent arrangements for consultation with the non-EU European NATO members and EU accession candidates.