Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:85 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his participation on the most recent meeting of the EU Defence Ministers. [18889/03]
Vol. 570 No. 3
85 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his participation on the most recent meeting of the EU Defence Ministers. [18889/03]
98 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the EU military capabilities conference he attended in May 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18864/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 98 together.
I welcome the opportunity to report to the House on discussions which took place at the meeting of Defence Ministers, which was designated as a capabilities commitment conference, in Brussels on 19 May 2003. Meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, in the format of Defence Ministers, are usually held during the course of each EU Presidency term. Along with informal meetings of Defence Ministers, they provide a useful forum for promoting dialogue and establishing co-operation between Defence Ministers in the context of the development of the European Security and Defence Policy.
At the meeting in May, we discussed the continued work on the development of military and civilian capabilities for crisis management within the framework of ESDP. We also noted the start of Operation Concordia in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the progress of the EU police mission in Bosnia Herzegovina. The ongoing implementation of permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO was also welcomed by Ministers.