Examination of Witnesses (Question 40)
THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2007
Mr Andrew Mathewson, Professor Phil Sutton, Captain
Richard Stokes
Q40 Chairman:
Mr Mathewson, we did give you notice that we are now doing a second
study on the EU Reform Treaty and there is one question which
I would like to ask you about that because we will not have another
opportunity to ask a question to a defence witness. I realise
that you may want to reply that you would like to write to me
about it, but the question is that one of the innovations in the
defence area—the EDA of course is already up and running
so that particular part of the Treaty we know about—the
other part of the Treaty is the Protocol and the clauses which
deal with something called Permanent Structured Cooperation. Would
you like to say a little bit about what that is? Is that Battlegroups
Plus or is it something quite different?
Mr Mathewson: Thank you for giving the opportunity
to write and I will indeed take up your kind offer, my Lord. In
principle Permanent Structured Cooperation is a device for raising
the bar; it is a device for encouraging nations to do more by
way of generating capability. It is a form of peer pressure—I
think the Battlegroups can be seen as a form of Permanent Structured
Cooperation. Here is a challenge, generate the capacity, raise
your level of ability to contribute. I think the forthcoming Presidency—I
know the French Presidency in particular—is giving some
consideration as to how it can use the provisions for the Permanent
Structured Cooperation in order to raise the general level of
capability. I think it is a refined form of peer pressure and
the generation of some internal pressure to do more.
Chairman: Thank you very much indeed
for that answer and we look forward to having something further
in writing, which will be valuable.
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