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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the EU White Paper, "New Frontier for an Expanding Union"; and what effect he expects the action plan for implementing the European Space Policy will have on UK defence policy; [190055] (2) what implications the EU White Paper "New Frontier for an Expanding Union" published in June has on the European Security and Defence Policy. [190076] Mr. Hoon: The European Commission's White Paper proposes, amongst other things, a number of space- related initiatives aimed at improving the EU's crisis management capability. Whilst space-based assets and applications could play an important role in helping to meet the EU's security and defence needs, the provision of military capability remains a member state responsibility under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). This will not be changed by the White Paper, and the White Paper does not therefore determine the priorities for UK Defence policy. The EU's future requirements for military space capabilities are being examined through the ESDP's European Capability Action Plan process. EU member states, including the UK, are fully engaged in the development of the EU Space Policy that will follow on from the White Paper. The UK has emphasised that decisions on the defence and military aspects must be taken on an intergovernmental basis, where member states have a veto, and that implementation of the Space Policy must be driven by actual--rather than assumed--requirements.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1047-8W;426 c1051-2W; 190055;190076

Session

2003-04

Subjects

EU action EU defence policy Spaceflight

Link

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