EU Permanent Structured Co-operation Projects 2024-02-19
2024-02-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question arises from the UK's need to finalise its entry into the military mobility project under PESCO and concerns about potential benefits and constraints of further involvement in other PESCO projects.
What assessment has his Department made of the potential merits of participating in further EU permanent structured co-operation projects?
The Department's priority is to finalise entry into the permanent structured co-operation military mobility project before considering involvement in other projects. However, we assess that the EU's standard “third country” terms for PESCO projects involving procurement or capability development will continue to impose significant constraint on UK involvement.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over the evolving nature of PESCO and the potential benefits for UK involvement, with a suggestion to publish criteria for assessing each opportunity on its merits.
I appreciate that the UK Government's attitude to PESCO is to take each project on a case-by-case basis, but may I suggest that publishing criteria for that case-by-case assessment would be useful? It is obvious to the dogs in the street that PESCO will evolve at light-speed, and the UK risks missing out on a lot of important co-operation that could be beneficial. Will the Minister publish that guidance?
I note the hon. Gentleman's suggestion, and I fear that my answer will give him encouragement to table the 68 questions, because it is right that we consider each opportunity in PESCO on its merits. PESCO is a vehicle for increasing military mobility around the continent. Non-EU NATO partners support that fully, and the UK is among them, but industrial or technological co-operation will not always be in the UK's interest, or in the interest of UK industry, so it is right that we consider these things case by case.
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Assessment & feedback
publishing criteria for assessment
Consider Each Opportunity On Its Merits
Response accuracy