APPENDIX 3
Replies from the Ministry of Defence to
written questions following the Oral Evidence Session of 16 February
2000
1. The Headline goal requires the troop commitment
to be backed-up by appropriate air and naval assets, intelligence,
command and control, logistics and other elements. Is it the current
"aspiration" of the EU to meet these goals in the same
timescale as the troop commitment (ie by 2003)? If not, have targets
already been set (and what are they) or when are they likely to
be set? What has been done so far to address the capability deficiencies
identified in the WEU Audit, in particular in relation to sustainability,
intelligence and mobility?
The Helsinki European Council agreed to set a Headline
Goal of being able, by 2003, to deploy forces to undertake the
full range of Petersberg tasks in operations up to Corps level.
This goal included a specific figure for ground troops (50-60,000)
and, in addition, unspecified air and naval assets. The Council
also agreed to develop rapidly collective capability goals in
the fields of command and control, intelligence and strategic
transport but did not set a specific date for these.
Further work is in hand under the Portuguese
Presidency to elaborate these goals. This work will take full
account of the conclusions of the WEU Audit.
2. When do you expect the UK to have specific
performance criteria for its contribution to the headline goal
set? Do you anticipate any likely requirement for more investment
in specific capability areas than currently planned for by the
MoD to meet these criteria?
We are waiting to define national contributions
to the Headline Goal to be agreed by the end of the year. It is
too early to say whether any additional investment is likely to
be required in specific capability areas. However we believe the
measures we are taking to implement the Strategic Defence Review
means that the UK will be well placed to provide the type of forces
and capabilities required by the Headline Goal.
3. What is the UK's current thinking about
the likely residual functions that may have to remain under the
WEU treaty after the end of the year?
We expect the establishment of new structures
and arrangements for defence in the EU to lead to the transfer
of some WEU's functions to the EU. Other functions would no longer
be required and could be discarded. The 1948 Modified Brussels
Treaty and the Article 5 collective defence guarantee it includes
for full members could remain, but continue to be met through
NATO where each nation has a complementary commitment. We are
still considering with partners the future role of the groups
which are under the WEU umbrella including the Satellite Centre,
Institute for Security Studies, WEU Assembly, Western European
Armaments Organisation, Western European Armaments Group, Western
European Logistics Group, Eurolongterm, Eurocom and Transatlantic
Forum.
4. Do you detect any willingness on the part
of the US to help Europe establish a more consolidated defence
industry?
The US Department of Defence has an interest
in retaining competition at a time of increasing consolidation
within the global defence industry. To this end it has recently
signed a bilateral Declaration of Principles with the UK designed
to improve defence equipment and industrial co-operation between
the UK and the US.
The Declaration is intended to establish principles
for improved co-operation on security of supply, market access,
exports, handling of classified information, research and technology
and military requirements. Under the agreement UK defence companies
doing business in the United States should be treated no less
favourably than US defence companies doing business in the United
Kingdom. Detailed implementation arrangements will be the subject
of further negotiations between the UK and US defence ministries
over the coming year.
Such measures to remove obstacles to defence
trade are likely to encourage European companies to consolidate
so they are better able to compete effectively.
5. Could you set out the anticipated timetable
of decisions up to January 2001 at the European Councils and WEU
Ministerials in relation to the development of the CEDSP.
The WEU will hold Ministerial meetings in Oporto
in May and in France in November. The European Council will meet
at Feira in June and Nice in December, and also informally at
Lisbon in March and Biarritz in October. By the Feira Council
we hope to have elaborated the Headline Goal as mandated by the
Council in Helsinki, and to have taken forward work on the participation
of third states, EU/NATO relations. The interim Political and
Security Committee, interim Military body (ie Committee) and interim
Military experts (ie Military Staff) will be established in March.
By the December Council (Nice) we expect them to have developed
the detailed structures and procedures of the permanent bodies.
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