HC Deb 11 March 2003 vol 401 c182W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about giving the alliance a greater role in Afghanistan. [101963]

Mr. Ingram

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his officials have on several occasions discussed possible roles for NATO in Afghanistan with NATO colleagues. We fully support the decision by Germany and the Netherlands to benefit from NATO assistance in their leadership of ISAF III.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the European Union to undertake the NATO operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [101965]

Mr. Hoon

The European Council indicated the European Union's willingness to lead a military operation in Bosnia following SFOR, when it met at Copenhagen on 12–13 December last year. Initial consultation has commenced with NATO, and other international players, with a view to the EU potentially assuming responsibility for the stabilisation role in Bosnia next year.