Written question asked by Michael Colvin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 February 2000. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 February 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes in military structures are required in order to implement the common foreign and security policies agreed at the Helsinki European Council.

Answer: Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes in military structures are required in order to implement the common foreign and security policies agreed at the Helsinki European Council. [109956] Mr. Hoon: At the Helsinki European Council, EU member states agreed: (a) to establish the new structures necessary for the EU to decide and, where NATO as a whole is not engaged, act in response to crises. These bodies will include a Military Committee and a Military Staff; and (b) to set up, from March 2000, the interim arrangements required for the EU to develop its military crisis management procedures, including an interim body of military representatives of member states' Chiefs of Defence.

Secondary information