§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the European Rapid Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement. [135457]
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§ Mr. HoonThere is no European Army or standing European Rapid Reaction Force nor any EU agreement to create one. Forces are offered by EU Member states for EU crisis management operations on a voluntary, case-by-case basis. This is no different from the arrangements for NATO crisis management operations. Member states have, however, set themselves a Headline Goal to be able to deploy within 60 days, and sustain for at least one year, some 50-60,000 personnel on crisis management operations including smaller rapid response elements available and deployable at very high readiness. I discussed the improvement of European military capabilities, in particular the creation of a European Defence Agency for capability development, with my EU counterparts at the Informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Rome on 3–4 October.