Further Supplementary memorandum by Jim
Murphy MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
I note the comments that the Russian Ambassador
made on the provision of transport helicopters for the EU operation
in Chad. I can confirm that Russia has been in consultation with
the EU Council Secretariat regarding this proposal, and confirm
too that in principle we would very much welcome a continued and
increased Russian support for EU, NATO, UN and other international
operations, including through the contribution of helicopters,
ground forces and other capabilities. I will update the Committees
on any progress that is made in relevant negotiations.
We continue to work with all of our international
partners on measures to address the global helicopter shortage.
The Committee might also be interested to know that the UK has
been the primary driving force in promoting NATO initiatives to
identify means to generate and mobilise increased helicopter capability
among member states.
9 March 2008
Further Supplementary memorandum by Jim Murphy
MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
I very much welcome the interest of the Select
Committee in this issue. It is vitally important for the security
and prosperity of our citizens that we respond effectively to
climate change.
You raise the implications of climate change
for the EU's long-term relations with Russia. Climate change will
indeed have an impact on our relations. The EU's ambitious targets
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions agreed at last year's Spring
European Council will drive a restructuring of Member States'
energy economies. This will have significant implications for
the EU's energy partners, including Russia. The effects will be
complex, and it is important that we share our thinking with partners
like Russia as we implement the ambitious package agreed last
year. In addition, as we transit to low-carbon ourselves, we will
be developing technologies which may eventually be interesting
for Russia's own response to climate change. It is therefore essential
that EU/Russia dialogue on climate and energy helps us understand
and take account of each other's interests. We also need to work
with Russia bilaterally and through the EU and other international
organisations on securing an equitable and ambitious post-2012
agreement under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change) process. There are a number of formal processes
in which this dialogue can take place: the current EU/Russia Partnership
and Co-operation Agreement (PCA), and the draft negotiating mandate
for a successor to the PCA, which also covers climate change.
In addition, the draft PCA successor mandate
covers conflict prevention and resolution and security co-operation
between the EU and Russia: this could include conflicts caused,
worsened or prolonged by the effects of climate change.
The EU has also instituted an Energy Dialogue
with Russia, one of the main focuses of which is the promotion
of energy efficiency in Russia, based on the two sides" common
interest in reducing the energy intensity of Russia's GDP. Achieving
progress in this area would significantly enhance Russia's contribution
to combating global climate change.
With regard to international development, there
is a real risk that much of the economic and social progress developing
countries have made in recent years could be wiped out by climate
impacts, pushing greater numbers of people into spiralling poverty.
DFID has been very active in following up the issues highlighted
in the above report and I can confirm that DFID was consulted
in the preparation of the Explanatory Memorandum. My officials
continue to be in regular contact with their DFID counterparts
(as with those in other key Government departments) and we will
ensure DFID is closely involved in taking forward follow-up recommendations
to be discussed in the Council.
On the European Security Strategy (ESS), climate
change will certainly be one of the areas addressed in forthcoming
ESS work as it did not have sufficient prominence in the 2003
Strategy. We will want the forthcoming examination of the implementation
of the ESS—and, as appropriate, proposals to complement
it—to take account of the security dimension of climate
change. This point is made in the High Representative's report.
In conclusion, the FCO will be following progress
in this area very closely and will continue to liaise with the
Solana Cabinet and the External Relations Directorate of the European
Commission to ensure that the recommendations produced for the
December Council take account of our priorities and offer the
best possible outcome for future action. We very much welcome
your involvement in achieving this aim, and would encourage parliamentary
committees to include discussion on climate change as a security
issue whenever they travel overseas.
15 April 2008
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