Vol. 514 No. 4
70 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on proposals by the German defence ministry for joint airborne logistics to assist European armed forces in getting peacekeeping forces to critical locations quickly. [22499/99]
At the bilateral Franco-German summit on 30 November last, a declaration was adopted by the Franco-German Defence and Security Council which stated the intention of those two countries to work in stages and in the appropriate fora towards the creation of a European air transport command. The defence ministries of both countries were mandated to follow-up on this initiative.
The European Council in Helsinki in December approved a Finnish Presidency progress report which covered, among other things, capabilities for Petersberg Tasks, including the capability to transport peacekeeping forces rapidly to crisis locations. In addition, the EU also welcomed decisions announced by individual member states which aim to enhance capabilities for Petersberg Tasks. Preparations for the establishment of a European air transport command were cited in this context.
