12 European Defence Agency
| (a)
(34458)
15327/12
—
(b)
(34457)
15323/12
—
|
Head of Agency's Report to the Council
Council Guidelines for the Agency's work in 2013
|
| Legal base | —
|
| Department
Basis of consideration
| Defence
Minister's letter of 29 November 2012 and EMs of 10 December 2012
|
| Previous Committee Reports | None; but see (33514) — , (33561) — and (33562) — : HC 86-vi (2012-13), chapter 7 (27 June 2012) and HC 428-lvi (2010-12), chapter 5 (27 March 2012); also see (32801) — HC 428-xxxii (2010-12), chapter 19 (6 July 2011); (32552) 18043/10, (32553) 17514/10 and (32554) 17373/10: HC 428-xxvii (2010-12), chapter 17 (18 May 2011), HC 428-xxi (2010-11), chapter 12 (23 March 2011); also see (31527) 8707/10, HC 428-iii (2010-11), chapter 20 (13 October 2010); also see (32816) — : HC 428-xxx (2010-12), chapter 22 (22 June 2011)
|
| Discussion in Council | 19 November 2012 Foreign Affairs Council
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
12.1 The European Defence Agency was established under 2004/551/CFSP
on 12 July 2004, "to support the Council and the Member States
in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the
field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security
and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future".[35]
STRUCTURE
12.2 The EDA is an Agency of the European Union. The High Representative
of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR; Baroness
Ashton) is Head of the Agency and chairs its decision-making body,
the Steering Board, which is composed of Defence Ministers of
the 26 participating Member States (all EU Member States, except
Denmark) and the European Commission. In addition, the Steering
Board meets regularly at sub-ministerial levels, such as National
Armaments Directors or Capability Directors.
12.3 The Steering Board acts under the Council's
Authority and within the framework of guidelines issued by the
Council and meets twice yearly — in May and November.
12.4 Unanimity is required for decisions on role,
goals and targets; QMV for internal operations.
WAY OF WORKING
12.5 The Agency originally described itself as facing
outwards; its main "shareholders" as being the Member
States participating in the Agency; key stakeholders as including
the Council and the Commission as well as third parties such as
OCCAR (fr. Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière
d'ARmement),[36] LoI
(Letter of Intent) and NATO; and as having a special relationship
with Norway (through an "Administrative Arrangement").[37]
12.6 The Committee was fully engaged in the development
of the EDA, culminating in a debate in June 2004 in European Committee
B.[38] There, the then
Secretary of State stated that its principal purpose would be
to improve Member States' military capabilities.
12.7 The then Government agreed that it would deposit
the Agency reports to the Council referred to in Article 4 of
the EDA Joint Action — its May report on activities during
the previous and current year and its November report on current
year activity and "draft elements" of the work programme
and budgets for the following year — and the Council's annual
guidelines to the Agency that set the framework for its work programme.
Also, initiated by the then Secretary of State (Dr John Reid),
the relevant MOD Minister writes before and after EDA Steering
Board meetings (not only to this Committee but also to the Defence
Select Committee). The House has thus been kept well-informed
of developments.
12.8 With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty
on 1 December 2009 the European Defence Agency and its tasks became
enshrined in the treaties. Article 42(3) TEU stipulates that
the Agency
"shall identify operational requirements, shall
promote measures to satisfy those requirements, shall contribute
to identifying and, where appropriate, implementing any measure
needed to strengthen the industrial and technological base of
the defence sector, shall participate in defining a European capabilities
and armaments policy, and shall assist the Council in evaluating
the improvement of military capabilities."
12.9 The Agency's website notes that:
"The EDA has a particular status in the single
institutional framework of the EU. It is the only Union agency
having its foundation in the Treaties — this is otherwise
only the case for the Institutions — and the Agency has
an intergovernmental ministerial governance structure in which
all participating Member States' Ministries of Defence are being
represented."[39]
12.10 As previous reports note, a recurrent feature
of the Agency's history thus far has been a failure by the participating
Member States to reach agreement on the level of growth in the
financial framework, with the UK favouring annual budgets rather
than a three year framework; while others continued to hanker
after a more expansive approach, the UK approach has been pragmatic
— broad, active engagement, participation in some projects
but not all, maintaining budgetary discipline and encouraging
the Agency to focus on where the Agency could best add value.
12.11 Earlier this year, when similar documents covering
2011 and 2012 were finally submitted for scrutiny, the Committee
cleared them; drew its Report to the attention of the Defence
Committee; and were otherwise content for interested Members to
raise any questions with the Minister via the many channels at
their disposal.
12.12 For our part, we noted that, while it was interesting
to receive the Minister's views, he had the advantage of us: he
had seen the documents in question, whereas — despite several
fruitless requests at official level — we had not. We had
been told that this was because the EDA secretariat could not
be prevailed upon to lift the "limité" caveat
attached to these documents — notwithstanding that it was
by then four months since they had been agreed by the EDA steering
board. We recognised that the nature of these documents militated
against prior parliamentary scrutiny. However, we saw no good
reason why, once agreed by the EDA Steering Board, they could
not be released from any restriction. As it was, the delays,
both then and in the previous year, suggested, at best, indifference
on the part of EDA secretariat towards the essential role of parliamentary
scrutiny in Common Security and Defence Policy, and was unacceptable.
We therefore asked the then Minister:
— what
steps had been taken by his department to secure the cooperation
of the EDA secretariat over these particular documents;
— what steps the UK permanent representation
in Brussels had also taken in this regard; and
— what steps he would take to ensure that
this did not happen again, and that, once adopted, these and other
similar documents were released without further ado. [40]
12.13 We reiterated this request in our Report of
27 June 2012, and asked the then Minister also to send us a copy
of the HR's response.[41]
12.14 The then Minister's letter of 13 July 2012
to the HR is reproduced at the annex of this chapter of our Report,
together with a copy of her response of 27 August (which we have
only now received).
The Minister's letter of 29 November 2012
12.15 In his letter, the Minister for International
Security Strategy (Dr Andrew Murrison) writes in connection with
the 19 November Foreign Affairs Council and EDA Steering Board
meetings. He explains that the confirmed agenda was released
to participating Member States just a few days before the meeting,
and that there was insufficient time to provide the Committee
with the Government's
policy position on the agenda items prior to the Steering Board
meeting; and says that he is now writing to inform the Committee
of the positions that he took on each of the items and the subsequent
decisions taken.
12.16 He does so as follows:
"The Steering Board agreed the EDA Work Programme
2013 and the EDA Work Plan for 2013-15. In addition to these
Action Points, the Steering Board endorsed a Pooling and Sharing
Code of Conduct to be implemented voluntarily at National level
and received an update on the interaction between Defence and
Wider EU policies.
"In more detail, the areas of discussion were
as follows:
"EDA 2013 Budget. The UK was not prepared
to accept an increase in the EDA budget. Therefore, the subject
was not discussed at the Steering Board but taken later in the
morning at the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence Ministers formation)
where the UK successfully secured a budget freeze for 2013. I
made the point that in the current financial climate, when we
are making cuts to the UK Defence (and other) budgets, we must
seek to continuously drive efficiency and scrutinise every pound
spent on defence. For this reason, I could not accept an increase
in the budget. In accordance with procedure, our position in refusing
to agree a budget increase for the third year running resulted
in the budget being held at 2010 levels.
"EDA Work Programme 2013. The work programme
for 2013 has been adjusted following UK comments to prioritise
funding in promising areas such as the Defence Test and Evaluation
Base, important enablers such as the Collaborative Database, and
capability development priorities such as Air to Air Refuelling
and Counter IED.
"EDA Work Plan 2013-2015. As with the
Work Programme, the Work Plan has been adjusted following UK comments
but reflects the EDA's current proposed budget. The proposed activity
for 2014 and 2015 is indicative and will be subject to negotiation
prior to future budget agreements.
"Pooling & Sharing. Ministers noted
the EDA's progress and intentions for Pooling and Sharing, as
articulated in the Agency's report on Pooling and Sharing. The
report gave a progress update of ongoing activity such as the
Helicopter Training Programme and Maritime Surveillance Networking, proposed
new opportunities for Pooling and Sharing which include Cyber
Defence and Route Clearance Counter IED, and included the Code
of Conduct for Pooling and Sharing which Ministers agreed to adopt.
The Code is a voluntary, non-binding agreement that aims to "mainstream"
Pooling and Sharing in Member States' national planning and decision
making processes in order to support co-operative efforts to develop
defence capabilities. The Code has been prepared with Member States'
input and the UK was content to endorse it.
"Interaction between Defence and Wider EU
Policies. Ministers noted this update on EDA work on the interaction
between Defence and wider EU policies such as Industry and Market,
Research and Innovation and European Space Policy. In general
terms, the UK supports the EDA's role in providing the Defence
perspective to agencies such as the Commission, and in providing
transparency to Member States regarding the issues discussed.
However, we are clear that defence is a matter of national sovereignty
and there is no substitute for the direct involvement of Member
States.
"In the margins of the Steering Board and the
FAC, Ministers of the concerned Member States signed the following
agreements: "Letter of Intent on a European Strategic Multi-Role
Tanker Transport Initiative"; "Programme Arrangement
regarding the Helicopter Exercise Programme"; and "Technical
Arrangement concerning Diplomatic Clearances for Participants'
Military Transport Aircraft in their respective National Airspace
or Territory". As you are aware, Ministers are still considering
the case for UK membership of the European Defence Agency, with
the aim of announcing the outcome of the review shortly. If the
decision is taken to remain in the Agency, it would be our intention
to sign the Helicopter Exercise Programme Arrangement."
The 2012 Head of Agency's Report
12.17 In his first Explanatory Memorandum of 10 December
2012, the Minister for International Security Strategy (Dr Andrew
Murrison) says that the report describes progress on the Agency's
main output areas, and provides an overview of Agency activities,
which include: the update of the Capability Development Plan (CDP);
the Agency's defence Research and Technology activities; European
Armaments Co-operation Strategy; Industry and Market issues; and
interaction with key stakeholders.
12.18 The Minister notes that in previous years,
scrutiny of this document has been delayed due to the fact that
public versions could not be provided to the Committee until they
had been de-classified by the EDA and released by the Council
Transparency Service. He recall that the 2011 document was eventually
cleared by the Committee on 27 June, a "PUBLIC" version
having released on 27 May 2012:
"Following representations from the Chair of
the ESC, this issue was brought to the attention of Baroness Ashton
in her role as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, who in reply undertook to address the situation
and ensure that PUBLIC versions of documents for scrutiny were
released without delay. As a result, this 2012 document was released
on 12 November 2012 and made PUBLIC on the 29 November 2012."
The Government's view
12.19 The Minister says that he is "content
that the report captures accurately the key EDA activities and
that those activities are consistent with the scope of the EDA's
competence and remit", and says that UK officials were "involved
in the authoring and agreement of this document prior to its submission
for Council adoption."
12.20 The Minister then says:
"As you are aware, Ministers are still considering
the case for UK membership of the European Defence Agency with
the aim of announcing the outcome on the review shortly. In the
meantime, we will continue to participate in the EDA and will
work with the EDA and key partners to improve the Agency's effectiveness,
including in prioritising effort on capability-driven outputs."
12.21 The Minister then provides his assessment of
policy implications against the substance of the report as set
out below, making reference to the report contents.
"Support to Operations
"Capability Development Plan (CDP)
"The CDP is designed to identify priority areas
for capability development that require addressing by Member States.
It takes into account existing capability, nations' plans and
programmes, lessons learned from operations, and long term trend
analysis (2025+ timeframe). A revision in 2011 produced a "Top
Ten" priority list;[42]
further revision during 2013, for publication in 2014, will ensure
the CDP remains relevant. The UK currently intends to be fully
involved in this work to ensure any revision is aligned with UK
priorities and policy.
"Air to Air Refuelling
"EDA has developed an overall approach to meeting
the critical European capability requirement through: increasing
overall capacity, reducing fragmentation of the fleet, and optimising
the use of assets. It has led four complementary work-strands,
on some of which the EDA is cooperating closely with OCCAR (in
the framework of the Administrative Arrangement signed in July
2013), aimed at: short-term solutions, including access to commercial
AAR services; optimising the use of existing assets and organisations;
increasing the A400M fleet AAR capability by acquiring additional
refuelling kits; and increasing the strategic tanker capability
in Europe by 2020. The UK is participating in the short-term solution
strand through the offer of spare capacity Voyager flying hours
which UK is looking to make available to interested nations, on
a pooling and charging basis, should contracting constraints allow.
Additionally, UK is providing an advisory role in the procurement
of a European Strategic Multirole Tanker Transport, using lessons
learned from recent procurement initiatives.
"Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices
(C-IED)
"The EDA has deployed a C-IED Theatre Exploitation
Laboratory (Demonstrator) (TEL(D)) in Afghanistan, under a French
lead (under ISAF). The UK already has a national capability integrated
into ISAF and whilst the UK are not active participants in the
EDA's C-IED project we do encourage other Member States to participate
in this project as we believe that more EU nations developing
their own C-IED exploitation expertise could potentially reduce
the burden on the UK. Accordingly, we have provided assistance
including information (subject to national caveats) to inform
the Agency's work. We will continue to monitor this work with
interest and provide encouragement and support and keep our position
under continual review.
"Helicopter Training Programme (HTP)
"The EU and NATO are working in a complementary
manner to address critical helicopter capability shortfalls. NATO
runs a programme to upgrade airframes; the EDA leads on aircrew
training. Initially based on live exercises, the HTP now includes
a synthetic simulator based project, a helicopter tactics instructor
training course, and an operational English training course. The
Helicopter Exercise Programme (the exercise component of the HTP)
was signed by 12 Member States[43]
as a Category B (opt-in) project. The UK was not in a position
to sign the arrangement at this meeting, however if a decision
was taken for the UK to remain in the Agency, it would be our
intention to opt in to this arrangement. We remain fully committed
to the HTP, to which we have already pledged €1M from the
Multinational Helicopter Initiative.
"Multimodular Medical Units (Medical Field
Hospitals)
"UK is content to offer its experience/lessons
identified though its own multinational efforts on medical in
order to support the initiatives but does not intend to make use
of the capabilities developed under this work.
"European Satellite Communications Procurement
Cell (ESCPC)
"The UK participates in the ESCPC, where member
states co-operate to secure better rates for commercial SATCOM
as a means of augmenting military SATCOM. The ESCPC provides a
procurement cell to manage the technical and financial aspects
and undertake the necessary contracting function to realise these
benefits. The UK's contractor Paradigm will effectively provide
services for the other member states with MOD UK receiving service
credits as third party bandwidth is utilised. The project has
moved forward as planned, with the signature of the Framework
Contract in September 2012. Five Member States participate on
a pay-per-use basis.[44]
"Maritime Surveillance (MARSUR)
"The EDA Maritime Surveillance (MARSUR) project
was set up in 2006 to improve Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA)
to support the Common Security Defence Policy (CSDP) and wider
related maritime missions. Its aim is to create a Recognised Maritime
Picture (RMP) by networking national systems together across Europe. A
pan-European Defence RMP will fuse a wealth of information into
a single picture filtered by each individual participating Member
State and has the potential to deliver a powerful tool to increase
Maritime Security, enhance MSA and support Maritime security operations
around Europe. Their links with the EU Commission and Agencies,
and maritime organisations worldwide, have been enhanced through
six participating Member States[45]
linking their national systems through an EDA developed interface.
The live network is active and membership continues to increase.
The UK signed the MARSUR DEV Category B project framework in the
margins of the Steering Board in Capabilities Directors' formation
on 11 October 2012.
"Preparing for the Future
"While we are supportive of the Agency's European
Defence Research and Technology strategy (EDRT), the EDA's R &
T activity could be more focussed better to connect research with
capability development needs. We believe that this would be preferable
to the agency spreading its activity over a wider range of research
areas. The review of the Capability Development Plan in 2013 will
provide the opportunity to shape the EDA's work plan to prioritise
effort in critical R&T areas (such as fuel and energy). We
will continue to engage in this process and influence the Agency's
activity to meet UK priorities.
"Armaments
"Military Airworthiness
"The EDA has set up the Military Airworthiness
Authorities (MAWA) Forum to develop common requirements for airworthiness.
The initiative aims to deliver harmonised military airworthiness
and certification standards across Europe. Timely development
and implementation of common standards for future air platforms
should reduce the duplication of effort by developers (i.e. do
things once rather than many times by each participating nation)
significantly decreasing the cost to military air systems of airworthiness
certification.
"Unmanned Air Systems
"Building on Agency work, the European Commission
set up a European Steering Group — of which the EDA is a
member — to develop a comprehensive regulatory and technology
roadmap for the use of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) in
non-segregated airspace. An EDA Joint Investment Programme on
UAS was established in June 2012 to invest in selected R&D
areas of interest in the defence community while exploiting synergies
and ensuring coordination with the European Commission. The UK
continues to monitor this work, to see how it fits into the overall
Commission strategy.
"Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR)
"The Single European Sky (SES) initiative was
launched by the European Commission in 2004 to reform European
Air Traffic Management (ATM). It proposes a legislative approach
to meet future capacity, safety and environmental needs at a European
rather than a national level. Single European Sky Air Traffic
Management Research (SESAR) is the technological dimension of
SES, and aims to eliminate the fragmented approach to European
ATM, transform the ATM system, synchronise all stakeholders and
federate resources.
"The EDA is now sponsoring an implementation
forum with the aim of coordinating defence engagement in SESAR.
Whilst the UK is content that the Agency facilitates and supports
a forum which brings together interested parties to discuss the
implications of the deployment of SESAR, we are clear that the
EDA does not have the capacity to speak on behalf of the current
44 Member States representing the military community which are
currently involved in implementing SESAR.
"Industry and Markets
"The European Defence Technological and Industrial
Base (EDTIB) strategy sets out important policy objectives and
enablers to consolidate demand, increase investment and competition
thereby ensuring better security of supply in the European Technological
Industrial Base. Since the creation of the EDTIB strategy much
has changed, including the global financial crisis, a drop in
defence expenditure and implementation of the Defence and Security
Procurement Directive. The UK continues to support a review to
revalidate the EDTIB strategy and the associated roadmaps. This
work must provide a robust analysis of progress so far and realistic
priorities to be taken forward. The UK has also stressed
that the EDA's work on identifying future key industrial capabilities
must be based on supporting future military requirements and make
maximum use of civil technologies.
"Interaction with key stakeholders
"We recognise that the EDA has a associate role
in working with the Commission Defence Task Force, not least in
ensuring that the Commission does not encroach upon areas of the
defence market which are already dealt with within the EDA at
the intergovernmental level. That said, the UK has made
it clear consistently that this association must not be seen by
the Commission as a replacement for direct consultation with the
Member States.
"We welcome the signature of an Administrative
Arrangement with OCCAR, which sets out in practical terms how
EDA and OCCAR will work together in delivering capability, including
for example the transfer of information between the two organisations
and the use of OCCAR project management's expertise to assist
the EDA in the early stages of project preparation."
Council Guidelines for the Agency's Work in 2013.
12.22 In his second Explanatory Memorandum of 10
December 2012, the Minister says that the Council Guidelines for
2013 comment on the Agency's recent progress and make recommendations
about the focus and direction of their work.
12.23 The Minister continues as follows:
"For 2013, this includes the continuation of
work on the Pooling and Sharing and co-operation on defence capabilities,
particularly with respect to the Capability Development Plan,
further efforts on Cyber Defence, further work exploring synergies
with other EU policies in close cooperation with Member States,
further contribution to the enhancement of the European Defence
Technological and Industrial Base, work on standardisation and
certification and the need to continue to pursue good co-ordination
and mutual reinforcement with NATO and Letter of Intent nations."
12.24 The Minister then makes the same observations
on the improvement in the timeliness of scrutiny as in his first
EM (c.f paragraph 12.18 above).
The Government's view
12.25 The Minister is content that the Council has
set the right focus and direction for the Agency's work in 2013,
and notes the UK officials were also involved in the authoring
and agreement of this document prior to its submission for Council
adoption.
12.26 The Minister continues as follows:
"The Council guidelines concentrate on progress
of the EDA at a strategic level: working with Member States to
further refine the scope of identified pooling and sharing opportunities;
exploring synergies with other EU polices in close cooperation
with the Member States; contribution to the enhancement of the
European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and to an open
and competitive European Defence Equipment Market; the Agency's
role in supporting participating Member States in determining
and addressing the implications of EU policies in the defence
community in the following domains: the implementation of the
Single European Sky (SES) and the Single European Sky Air Traffic
System (SESAR) in the military domain, the European Space Policy,
EU Cyber Security Strategy, EU Maritime Security Strategy, and
developments in Research and Technology and the European defence
market. The Council also welcomes the Agency's specific work on
standardisation and certification particularly in the areas of
airworthiness, ammunition qualification and diplomatic clearances
and reiterates the need for the Agency to continue to pursue good
coordination and mutual reinforcement with NATO and Letter of
Intent nations, as well as OCCAR, given the newly established
administration arrangement between the two bodies. The Council
also notes that the Agency can make an important contribution
to the European Council which will discuss defence issues in 2013."
12.27 The Minister concludes with the same remarks
as in his first EM concerning the Government's review of EDA membership
(c.f. paragraph 12.20 above).
Conclusion
12.28 We are grateful to the Minister and his
predecessor for having achieved a huge improvement in the scrutiny
process. It is a pity, however, that it is two cheers rather
than three, since we still await the third document concerning
the 2013 budget. We understand that, although the total has been
agreed, and the document concerned is to be adopted at the same
Council meeting on 20 December, he cannot deposit it for prior
scrutiny (and therefore intends to over-ride scrutiny) because
there remains the possibility that, between now and then, an attempt
might be made by one or other participating Member State to reopen
the detail, within that agreed total. If this were to be the
case next year, we suggest that a document on the budget is deposited
along with the other two that enables it to be cleared on the
basis of an agreed total (if the detail were to be subsequently
changed, a revised version could then be deposited and cleared
without further ado).
12.29 We are, as is customary, drawing this chapter
of our Report to the attention of the Defence Committee. As well
as the various programmes that the Minister mentions, there is
the added consideration this year concerning the review of the
UK's continuing membership of the Agency.
12.30 The Committee wrote to the Minister on 7
November following its consideration of his Explanatory Memorandum
on a Council Decision concerning an agreement for exchanging and
protecting protectively marked information between the EDA and
the European Space Agency (which the Committee cleared at its
meeting on that day). In his EM, the Minister mentioned that
the Government "is currently reviewing its membership of
the EDA, with a decision due before the end of the Autumn".
We pointed out that, as he was no doubt aware, this was first
brought to our attention two years ago by his predecessor; most
recently, in June 2011, when he recalled that the Government had
agreed in 2010 to remain in the EDA for a period of two years,
but if improvements in effectiveness and performance were not
forthcoming, would consider withdrawing. His intention, he said,
was to work with the EDA's new Chief Executive and other participating
Member States to increase the EDA's value through delivering more
in terms of addressing capability shortfalls and enhancing EDA
co-ordination with NATO. He professed himself encouraged that
more Member States now accepted the need not (his underlining)
to duplicate NATO, "a position the current British Government
has advocated very firmly from the outset of taking office."
We noted that we were already aware of interest in both the House
and the "defence think tank" community in the outcome,
and concern that — because the Council Decision enables
any member to withdraw without let or hindrance — the Government's
decision would be presented as a fait accompli; that, this being
so, the matter was, strictly speaking, out with our remit; but
the Committee nonetheless thought that he should be aware of this
interest, and might value the opportunity to explain how the Government
proposed to handle this, so that the House was able to indicate
its views before the Government made its decision. With that
in mind, we sent a copy of that letter to the Defence Committee.
12.31 As the Minister makes no mention of our
letter, nor whether the Government has any intention of sharing
its thinking with the House before any decision is taken, we take
this opportunity to remind the Minister of the concern of those
who have approached the Committee about their not being presented
with a fait accompli.
12.32 We now clear the documents.
35 Further detail is available in our Report: HC 428-lvi
(2010-12), chapter 5 (27 March 2012). For full background on the
EDA and its activities, see http://www.eda.europa.eu. Back
36
The Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière
d'ARmement was established by an Administrative Arrangement on
12th November 1996 by the Defence Ministers of France, Germany,
Italy and the UK. Its aim is to provide more effective and efficient
arrangements for the management of certain existing and future
collaborative armament programmes. The four founding Nations
went on to sign a Treaty, the "OCCAR Convention", which
came into force on the 28th January 2001. Belgium and Spain joined
OCCAR in 2003 and 2005 respectively. The Netherlands, Luxembourg
and Turkey are also participating in a programme, without being
members of the organisation. For further information on OCCAR,
see http://www.occar-ea.org/. Back
37
For full background on the EDA and its activities, see http://www.eda.europa.eu. Back
38
Stg Co Deb, European Standing
Committee B, 22 June 2004, cols. 4-24. Back
39
See http://www.eda.europa.eu/Aboutus/Howwedo/LisbonTreaty. Back
40
See headnote: (33514) - (33561) - and (33562) -: HC 428-lvi
(2010-12), chapter 5 (27 March 2012). Back
41
See headnote: HC 86-vi (2012-13), chapter 7 (27 June 2012). Back
42
Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED), Medical Support,
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Increased Availability
of Helicopters, Cyber Defence, Multinational Logistic Support,
CSDP Information Exchange, Strategic and Tactical Airlift Management,
Fuel and Energy, Mobility Assurance. Back
43
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden. Back
44
UK, France, Italy, Poland and Romania. Back
45
Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Sweden, UK. Back
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