Written question asked by Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 February 2004. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Monday, 23 February 2004 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what changes have been introduced in the implementation of the EU headline goal; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been introduced in the implementation of the EU Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement. [155209] Mr. Hoon: No changes have been introduced to the implementation of the Helsinki Headline Goal. However, with the evolution of the strategic environment and of technology, and following the inter- governmental conference and redefinition of the Petersberg Tasks, and with EU accession, continued progress in the European Capabilities Action Plan, the elaboration of rapid response elements, a European Security Strategy, and further work on rotation, readiness, concurrency and redundancy, a successor Headline Goal is now under discussion, with a target date of 2010. This Goal will place a new emphasis on interoperability, deployability and sustainability as its major themes. We anticipate an announcement at the European Council in June.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 155209; 418 c43W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: EU common foreign and security policy Standards EU defence policy Petersberg tasks
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk