To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the NATO Secretary General to discuss the EU-NATO relations as they relate to defence matters; and if he will make a statement. (266893)

I discussed the importance of NATO-EU co-operation with the NATO’s North Atlantic Council and the Secretary-General on 4 February 2009. In addition, NATO-EU co-operation is regularly discussed at NATO Defence Ministers’ meetings, the most recent of which was on 19-20 February.

Effective NATO-EU relations are essential in order to deliver both capability development and effective operations on the ground. The importance of this co-operation is highlighted in the European Security Strategy and NATO’s Comprehensive Political Guidance.