Billy Timmins
Question:62 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if decisions taken at the recent Helsinki Summit have any implications for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4498/00]
Written Answers. - Helsinki Summit.
Michael D'Arcy
Question:69 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces which will serve in the European-led rapid reaction force in view of the commitments at the Helsinki Summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4610/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 69 together.
In seeking to ensure that the EU has the capabilities required for Petersberg Tasks, the Helsinki European Council made clear that this process is not about creating a European Army. The importance of civilian crisis management, including the civilian dimensions of conflict prevention, was also recognised by the Helsinki European Council.
The Helsinki European Council agreed on a voluntary target for establishing the capabilities required for Petersberg Tasks. This target, which member states aim to meet by 2003, is to be able to deploy 50,000 to 60,000 personnel within 60 days and to be able to sustain this deployment for one year. This would equate roughly to a mission of a scale comparable to that of KFOR in Kosovo. Consideration is also being given to the appropriate arrangements that would allow interested non-EU states to contribute to the Petersberg tasks, and also to the appropriate consultation arrangements to be worked out between the EU and NATO for this purpose.
The General Affairs Council, with the participation of the Defence Ministers, will develop a method of consultation through which this target can be met and maintained, and through which national contributions reflecting member states' political will and commitment toward this target can be defined by each member state, with a regular review of progress made. Participation by any member state will be on an entirely case by case basis as individual missions arise.
The Presidency will present an interim progress report to the Lisbon European Council on 23-24 March, and a fuller progress report to the European Council in June.