European Gendarmerie Force

HL Deb 25 October 2004 vol 665 cc107-8WA

Lord Astor of Hever

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United Kingdom was represented at the Meeting of European Union Defence Ministers held in September 2004 at which it was agreed to establish a European Gendarmerie Force; and whether the United Kingdom is willing to contribute to such a force. [HL4454]

Lord Bach

The European Gendarmerie Force is not an EU force, but a multilateral initiative by five countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal) to create between them a joint paramilitary police force which could be made available to EU, NATO or UN operations. There are many multinational Force structures in Europe (such as Eurofor and SEEBRIG), involving different combinations of countries, which can be made available to the EU or NATO in this way. As the UK does not have paramilitary police, we are not a member of the European Gendarmerie Force.

The participating countries used the meeting of EU Defence ministers in September as an opportunity to sign a five-nation declaration of intent and to brief others on their initiative. The UK was represented at that meeting by the Secretary of State for Defence.