APPENDIX 2
Letter to the Chairman from the Chairman
of the European Scrutiny Committee, Mr Jimmy Hood MP concerning
strengthening the Common European Policy on Security and Defence
As you know, a number of developments are taking
place in the area of the Common European Policy on Security and
Defence. The Government has recently deposited in Parliament a
Presidency Report on this subject, which is due to be discussed
in the Helsinki European Council. The document raises issues of
major importance for the EU, which also have implications for
the forthcoming IGC into which we are currently inquiring.
We considered the document today and concluded
that it would be very helpful for the House to have the views
of your Committee on the proposed developments. We therefore decided
formally to request an opinion on this document from your Committee.
As always, timing is difficult, but we are hoping
to complete our IGC inquiry early in the New Year, with a view
to reporting to the House by the end of February. It would be
very helpful to have your views in time to take them into account
in our Report, but, if this is not possible, we could return to
this document at a later date.
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