European Security and Defence Policy: Effect of Differences over Iraq

HL Deb 08 April 2003 vol 647 c34WA

Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What implications they consider the policies of Germany and France towards Iraq have for the European Defence and Security Policy and for the formulation of a meaningful common foreign policy. [HL2297]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The European Union is continuing to make progress on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The detailed arrangements inplementing the Berlin plus agreement for the EU to make use of NATO assets and capabilities were recently agreed. This agreement has enabled the EU to launch the first military ESDP operation in Macedonia. Differences over Iraq have not prevented, and need not prevent, European nations working constructively together to achieve shared objectives in the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and ESDP.