§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the plans for a European Police Force; and how many officers are to be seconded to it from UK police forces. [149]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 June 2001]There are no plans for a European Police Force. A concrete target for European Union policing capabilities in the context of civilian crisis management was agreed at last year's Feira European Council. In the event of the European Union carrying out a civilian policing operation, the United Kingdom would not be obliged to contribute any police officers, but would decide in the light of circumstances whether it was appropriate for the United Kingdom to contribute to the operation, and, if so, at what level of numbers.