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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on progress with implementing the Headline Goal to give the European Union the means of carrying out the full range of Petersberg missions; and if he will make a statement; [102674] (2) what measures are planned to overcome the budgetary problems affecting achievement of the Helsinki goals; and if he will make a statement; [102678] (3) what assessment has been made of shortfalls in the military capabilities of the EU member states; what assessment he has made of the prospects for overcoming them; and if he will make a statement. [102675] Mr. Hoon: The Helsinki Headline Goal has been broken down into 144 capability targets, of which 104 had been met following the Capabilities Improvement Conference in November 2001. Of the 40 shortfalls about half may be resolved by improved management of existing forces. For the rest, a European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) was launched after the conference, comprising multinational panels tasked with suggesting possible solutions. Steady progress has been made with implementing ECAP. The panels are in the process of issuing their final reports. Panel suggestions will be taken forward by Member States on a voluntary basis, with steps being taken to establish "Project Groups" to take these solutions forward. Decisions on defence budgets and priorities within them are matters for individual member states.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

401 c432-3W; 102674;102678;102675

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Armed forces Finance EU common foreign and security policy Europe Military alliances EU defence policy Petersberg tasks

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk