EU Defence Policy

Dr. Fox
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK (a) military personnel and (b) civilian staff were attached to the (i) European Union Military Staff, (ii) European Defence Agency, (iii) European Union Military Committee and (iv) other EU institutions in each month since September 2007.

Des Browne
In each month since September 2007, the following numbers of military personnel were seconded to the EU Military Staff in Brussels:

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|              |Number|
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|September 2007|16    |
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|October 2007  |17    |
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|November 2007 |17    |
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|December 2007 |17    |
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|January 2008  |17    |
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|February 2008 |17    |
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|March 2008    |17    |
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|April 2008    |18    |
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|May 2008      |18    |
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No MOD civilian staff have been seconded to the EU Military Staff in any month since September 2007.

In each month since September 2007, the following numbers of military personnel and MOD civilian staff were seconded to the European Defence Agency in Brussels:

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|              |Military|Civilian|
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|September 2007|1       |4       |
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|October 2007  |1       |3       |
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|November 2007 |1       |3       |
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|December 2007 |1       |3       |
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|January 2008  |2       |3       |
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|February 2008 |2       |3       |
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|March 2008    |2       |3       |
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|April 2008    |2       |4       |
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|May 2008      |2       |4       |
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The European Military Committee is a regular meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Staff or their representatives from the EU member states, not a standing EU structure. There has been one British military officer seconded as the Military Adviser to the permanent Chairman of the EU Military Committee in every month since September 2007.

There have been no military personnel seconded to other EU institutions in any month since September 2007.

In every month since September 2007 there has been one MOD civilian seconded to the European Council General Secretariat, one MOD civilian seconded to the European Commission and one MOD civilian seconded to the European Global Navigation Satellite System Supervisory Authority (GSA).

Mr. Hollobone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the UK's participation in a standing EU armed force.

Des Browne
There is no standing EU armed force and there are no plans for one.