Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK-EU Defence and Security Agreement

Monday 19 May 2025 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK has signed a partnership deal with the EU on defence and security.
  • France has proposed limiting UK access to European defence programmes to 15%.
  • Further details on access levels for European programmes, including SAFE funding, will be negotiated later.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Milne Lib Dem Horsham
Defence Brexit
Context

The UK has recently left the EU, including the European Defence Agency (EDA), amidst rising defence expenditures across Europe due to Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Question

Following our departure from the EDA, what plans do the Government have to secure a more effective working relationship with Europe's defence procurement strategy and to form stronger links with the EDA?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

Quite simply, the answer to both the hon. Gentleman’s first question and his second question is exactly the partnership deal that we have signed this afternoon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Provided a broad statement about signing an agreement but did not provide specific plans or details on re-establishing ties with EDA

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Q2 Alison Bennett Lib Dem Mid Sussex
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK has signed a new security and defence partnership with the EU, including access to certain funds like the €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE). France had previously mentioned limiting UK's access to 15%.

Question

Given that France has said it wants our access to be limited to 15%, will you confirm what level of access has been agreed?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

This is a big step today—a broad and bespoke agreement between the European Union and the UK on security and defence—but it is a first step. Settling the details and the terms of access for European programmes, including the SAFE funding programme, is exactly the task beyond today.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Indicated that more details need to be settled but did not provide specific confirmation on the agreed level of access

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Q3 Alex Ballinger Lab Halesowen
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK has recently signed a new security and defence partnership with the EU. The joint expeditionary force is a mechanism for strengthening European security in response to Russian aggression.

Question

Given our previous military alliances, how can we do more to strengthen European mechanisms for security such as the joint expeditionary force?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

My hon. Friend is right about the joint expeditionary force, and he is right to emphasise the importance of the step today. While NATO is the cornerstone of our European security—and recognised as such by the European Union in its White Paper—the step today will mean that we will be able to upgrade our co-operation with the European Union on the mobility of military matériel and personnel, on maritime and space security, on irregular migration and on protecting our critical infrastructure. It opens the door to closer defence industrial collaboration, including potential participation in the EU’s €150 billion SAFE arrangements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions but outlined broader areas of co-operation

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