14. PROGRESS REPORT ON EUROPEAN SECURITY
AND DEFENCE POLICY
(24254)
15428/1/02
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ESDP Presidency Report. |
| Legal base: | —
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| Department: | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration: | Minister's letter of 3 March 2003
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| Previous Committee Report: | HC 63-xiii (2002-03), paragraph 12 (26 February 2003)
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| Discussed in Council: | 12-13 December 2002 Copenhagen European Council
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| Committee's assessment: | Politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Cleared (decision reported on 26 February)
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14.1 We cleared this progress report on the European
Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) on 26 February, but took up
several points arising in writing with the Minister for Europe,
Mr Denis MacShane. In particular, we expressed disappointment
that the Explanatory Memorandum did not provide us with a sharper
and more informative analysis of work being carried out on ESDP.
We said that we regarded these reports as providing an unusual
opportunity for the Government to keep us fully informed on this
important area, in which the documents for scrutiny rarely cover
broad-ranging policy issues. We said that we would prefer to see
a rather different Explanatory Memorandum on the next progress
report and asked whether a report would be presented to the Spring
European Council on 21 March.
14.2 We also asked the Minister for an assurance that
his Explanatory Memorandum on the final text of these reports
will be submitted much sooner in future after the Councils at
which they are agreed.
14.3 The Minister has now replied as follows:
"Now that we have reached agreement on procedure for scrutiny
of ESDP documents, I can confirm that we will make every effort
in the future to ensure that an Explanatory Memorandum is submitted
as soon as possible after the Council at which it is agreed.
"The Presidency will not present a report on ESDP at the
Spring European Council on 21 March. That Council will focus on
Economic Reform. The usual procedure is for the Presidency to
submit a report on progress in ESDP to the end-of-Presidency European
Council. This will be the Thessalonika European Council on 20
June.
"I agree with you that these reports provide an opportunity
for the Government to keep the Scrutiny Committees informed of
progress on this important area of policy. We will endeavour to
provide you with a more informative analysis of ESDP presidency
reports in the future".
Conclusion
14.4 We thank the Minister for his speedy response
and for his undertaking to provide us with more informative analyses
of ESDP presidency reports in future, as well as more timely Explanatory
Memoranda.
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