Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Military and Security Co-operation: European Union

Monday 7 December 2020 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Allan Dorans inquired about plans for future military and security cooperation with EU institutions and member states post-Brexit.
  • The Secretary of State stated that the UK will continue to cooperate with the EU and European nations on shared threats and challenges bilaterally or multinationally.
  • Tobias Ellwood questioned whether leaving without a trade deal would be less than helpful in addressing complex threats faced by the West.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Allan Dorans
Defence Brexit
Context

The MP inquired about the UK's future military and security cooperation with EU institutions and member states, considering the country's departure from EU defence structures.

Question

What plans does the Secretary of State have for future military and security co-operation with EU (a) institutions and (b) member states. Although we are leaving the EU defence structures, what specific plans exist to maintain collaboration on shared threats and challenges?

Answer from Ben Wallace

Although we are leaving the EU defence structures, we remain committed to the security of Europe and will continue to co-operate with the EU and European nations on a bilateral or multinational basis on shared threats and challenges. We do not need an institutionalised relation with the EU to do so. The defence settlement reaffirms our position as Europe's leading power, with the second highest defence budget in NATO, providing leadership and the ability for investment to help drive forward NATO's adaptation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific plans or commitments regarding future military and security cooperation with EU institutions and member states.

How: We Remain Committed, Do Not Need An Institutionalised Relation

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Q2 Allan Dorans
Defence
Context

The MP questioned the necessity of access to the European Defence Standardisation Committee for future conflict collaboration with EU forces, referencing its role in replacing the former Materiel Standardisation Group.

Question

Any major conflict will require UK forces to be able to work collaboratively and fully with EU forces in the future. What steps has the Secretary of State taken to ensure that that is possible through access to the European Defence Standardisation Committee, which replaces the former Materiel Standardisation Group?

Answer from Ben Wallace

The leader in the field of standardisation has always been NATO, with the setting of NATO standards, which have let us interoperate with our allies the United States and all the other nations of Europe. It would be wrong to abandon that to adopt another approach.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not address steps taken or plans for access to the European Defence Standardisation Committee, instead focusing on NATO's role in standardization.

How: It Would Be Wrong To Abandon That To Adopt Another Approach

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Q3 Tobias Ellwood Con
Brexit Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP questioned the potential impact of leaving EU without a trade deal, referencing the Government's integrated review and commitment to reinvigorating UK's proactive role internationally.

Question

My right hon. Friend knows, however, that NATO and Europe are not quite the same. As Brexit talks reach their conclusion, does he agree that to depart without a trade deal would be less than helpful in re-establishing western resolve to take on the growing, complex threats that we face? The Government's integrated review emphasises a commitment to reinvigorating a proactive role for the United Kingdom on the international stage, giving real purpose to global Britain. Would it not be an abject failure of statecraft, and diminish our collective security co-operation, to leave the EU without a deal?

Answer from Ben Wallace

My right hon. Friend obviously urges us to make a deal. I think that right now, as we speak, members of the Government are trying to make a deal with the European Union to enforce the decision by the British people to leave the European Union. What would be a mistake is if both sides forgot that security is not a competition—it is a partnership.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not address whether leaving without a deal impacts western resolve or collective security cooperation, instead focusing on making a deal to enforce Brexit.

How: What Would Be A Mistake Is If Both Sides Forgot That Security Is Not A Competition—It Is A Partnership

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Q4 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP was concerned about the possibility of an alternative NATO without US participation, and questioned what reassurance can be given that UK would not be pulled into such efforts through PESCO.

Question

I am encouraged by the Secretary of State's replies so far. Given that there is no security for Europe without the United States, what specific reassurance can he give that we shall not be sucked, via Permanent Structured Cooperation, into the European Union's persistent attempts to create an alternative NATO without the United States, which would be a particularly dangerous military version of Hamlet without the Prince?

Answer from Ben Wallace

My right hon. Friend raises a worrying spectre. First, we are very grateful to the Germans, who have tried very hard to get a proper third-party agreement with PESCO, although we have no plans to participate in it because we have serious concerns about the intellectual property rights and export controls that it would seek to impose.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific reassurance regarding UK's stance on being pulled into an EU-led alternative NATO, but acknowledged having no plans to participate in PESCO due to concerns over IP rights and export controls.

How: We Have Serious Concerns About The Intellectual Property Rights And Export Controls That It Would Seek To Impose

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