Written question asked by Robert Key (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 November 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Friday, 27 November 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the terms of the agreement he made at the WEU ministerial council in Rome on 16th November to create a European arms agency; if he will list the countries involved. - Inc ref to information in Library as DEP 98/1454.

Answer: Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of the agreement he made at the WEU ministerial council in Rome on 16 November to create a European arms agency; if he will list the countries involved; and if he will make a statement. [60979] Mr. Tony Lloyd: The Rome WEU Council adopted the conclusions of the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG). The Defence Ministers of WEAG reaffirmed their intention to create a European Armaments Agency (EAA). They agreed that WEAG's recently developed Masterplan should serve as the basis for further development of the EAA. WEAG membership comprises: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, Iceland, Norway and Turkey. I have arranged for the conclusions of the WEAG meeting and of the Masterplan to be placed in the library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 60979; 321 c37-8W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Defence equipment Western European Union European Armaments Agency Western European Armaments Group