§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards NATO reform. [110797]
§ Mr. HoonThe United Kingdom's principal objective towards NATO reform is to ensure the continued effectiveness and relevance of an enlarged Alliance.
The NATO summit in Prague, which took place during November last year, focused on transformation, and Alliance leaders agreed a comprehensive package of measures aimed at ensuring NATO has the flexibility and capabilities to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. These measures include: enlargement; a streamlined Command Structure; the creation of a NATO Response Force; a new capabilities initiative; and the modernisation of NATO's internal structures and processes.