§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2002,Official Report, column 11W, if he will make it his policy to discuss with NATO defence ministers the implications for NATO's naval capabilities of the creation of (a) an EU rapid reaction capability and (b) a France-Germany defence union. [90100]
§ Mr. HoonI take every opportunity to discuss with NATO colleagues the need for improved capabilities, including in the naval sphere, particularly in the context of the Prague capabilities commitment, launched at the Prague summit in November 2002, and the European security and defence policy. We are not aware of any specific plans for a France-Germany defence union.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the implications for NATO's naval capabilities of the creation of(a) an EU rapid reaction capability and (b) a France-Germany defence union. [90101]
§ Mr. HoonThe Rapid Response concept under development by the EU will be compatible with work on the NATO Response Force, and will therefore not result in any change to the level of naval forces declared to NATO.
We are not aware of any specific plans to create a France-Germany defence union.