HOUSE OF LORDS European Union Committee 26th Report of Session 2005–06 Current Developments in European Foreign Policy Report with Evidence Ordered to be printed 14 February and published 3 March 2006 Published by the Authority of the House of Lords London : The Stationery Office Limited £price HL Paper 124 The European Union Committee The European Union Committee is appointed by the House of Lords “to consider European Union documents and other matters relating to the European Union”. The Committee has seven Sub-Committees which are: Economic and Financial Affairs, and International Trade (Sub-Committee A) Internal Market (Sub-Committee B) Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy (Sub-Committee C) Environment and Agriculture (Sub-Committee D) Law and Institutions (Sub-Committee E) Home Affairs (Sub-Committee F) Social and Consumer Affairs (Sub-Committee G) Our Membership The Members of the European Union Committee are: Lord Blackwell Lord Maclennan of Rogart Lord Bowness Lord Marlesford Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood Lord Neill of Bladen Lord Dubs Lord Radice Lord Geddes Lord Renton of Mount Harry Lord Goodhart Baroness Thomas of Walliswood Lord Grenfell (Chairman) Lord Tomlinson Lord Hannay of Chiswick Lord Woolmer of Leeds Lord Harrison Lord Wright of Richmond The Members of the Sub-Committee which carried out this inquiry (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy, Sub-Committee C) are: Lord Bowness (Chairman) Lord Boyce Lord Dykes Baroness Falkner of Margravine Lord Freeman Lord Hannay of Chiswick Lord Lea of Crondall Lord King of Bridgwater Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Lord Tomlinson Lord Truscott Information about the Committee The reports and evidence of the Committee are published by and available from The Stationery Office. 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The Committee’s email address is [email protected] CONTENTS Paragraph Page Report 1 5 Appendix 1: Sub-Committee C (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy) 6 Appendix 2: Reports 7 Oral Evidence The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Minister for Europe; Mr Tim Barrow, Deputy Political Director and Assistant Director, EU External; and Mr Hugh Powell, Head of Security Policy Group, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Oral evidence, 2 February 2006 1 NOTE: References in the text of the report are as follows: (Q) refers to a question in oral evidence (p) refers to a page of written evidence Current Developments in European Foreign Policy 1. The Committee asked the Minister for Europe, Mr Douglas Alexander MP, to give evidence on the most recent developments in European Foreign Policy. We thank the Minister for his time. 2. In this Report we make available, for the information of the House, the oral evidence given to Sub-Committee C (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy) by the Minister for Europe, accompanied by Mr Tim Barrow and Mr Hugh Powell, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 2 February 2006. 3. Key topics in the evidence are: • Key developments of the United Kingdom Presidency. (Q 1) • Financing of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. (QQ 5–8) • Scrutiny of CFSP. (QQ 9–10) • The presentation of CFSP. (QQ 37–39) • Non-proliferation of WMD and small arms. (QQ 11–16) • ESDP missions in Africa. (QQ 17–23) • The future of the Western Balkans. (QQ 24–27) • The possibility of a visa-free regime with Ukraine. (QQ 2–4) • The Middle East Peace Process. (QQ 28–36) • The future of the Barcelona Process. (Q 55) • EU assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan. (QQ 40–54) 6 CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY APPENDIX 1: SUB-COMMITTEE C (FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY) The members of the Sub-Committee which conducted this inquiry were: Lord Bowness (Chairman) Lord Boyce Lord Dykes Baroness Falkner of Margravine Lord Freeman Lord Hannay of Chiswick Lord King of Bridgwater Lord Lea of Crondall Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Lord Tomlinson Lord Truscott Declarations of Interest Please also see the Register of Members Interests Lord Dykes Chairman, The European Atlantic Group (19 September 2005). Visit with British-Italian parliamentary group to Portofino, Italy (5–6 November 2005). Hospitality and accommodation (but not travel) paid by Italian Government and corporate donors. Discussion on Defence and Security. Lord Hannay of Chiswick Chair, United Nations Association of the UK. Member, Advisory Board, Centre for European Reform. Member, Advisory Board, European Foreign Affairs Review. Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Council of Ditchley Foundation. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY 7 APPENDIX 2: REPORTS Recent Reports from the Select Committee Review of Scrutiny of European Legislation (1st Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 15) Annual Report 2004 (32nd Report session 2003–04, HL Paper 186) The Draft Constitutional Treaty (41st Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 169) Session 2005–2006 Reports prepared by Sub-Committee C The European Union’s Role At the Millennium Review Summit (11th Report session 2005–2006, HL Paper 35) Review of Scrutiny: Common Foreign & Security Policy (19th Report session 2005–2006, HL Paper 100) Session 2004–2005 Reports prepared by Sub-Committee C Current Developments in European Foreign Policy (2nd Report session 2004–05, HL Paper 44) European Defence Agency (9th Report session 2004–05, HL Paper 76) Preventing Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: The EU Contribution (13th Report session 2004–2005, HL Paper 96) Session 2003–2004 Reports prepared by Sub-Committee C Current Developments in European Foreign Policy (4th Report session 2003–04, HL Paper 28) EU Development Aid in Transition (12th Report session 2003–04, HL Paper 75) Current Developments in European Foreign Policy (19th Report session 2003–04, HL Paper 118) EU Security Strategy (31st Report session 2003–04, HL Paper180) Session 2002–2003 Reports prepared by Sub-Committee C EU Russia Relations (3rd Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 29) EU—Effective in a Crisis? (7th Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 53) The Future of Europe: Convention Working Group—Reports on Defence and External Action (15th Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 80) Evidence by the Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on European Security and Defence Policy Scrutiny, the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 18–19 March 2003 and the Current State of Common Foreign and Security Policy (19th Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 94) The Future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty—Draft Articles on External Action (23rd Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 107) A Fractured Partnership? Relations Between the European Union and the United States of America (30th Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 134) Current Developments in European Foreign Policy (37th Report session 2002–03, HL Paper 152) 3304331001 Page Type [Ex 1] 28-02-06 20:59:55 Pag Table: LOENEW PPSysB Unit: PAG1 Minutes of Evidence TAKEN BEFORE THE EUROPEAN UNION (SUB-COMMITTEE C) THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2006 Present Bowness, L (Chairman) King of Bridgwater, L Boyce, L Lea of Crondall, L Dykes, L Tomlinson, L Hannay of Chiswick, L Truscott, L Examination of Witnesses Witnesses: Rt Hon Douglas Alexander, a Member of the House of Commons, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Tim Barrow, Deputy Political Director and Assistant Director, EU External, and Mr Hugh Powell, Head of Security Policy Group, examined. Q1 Chairman: Minister, good afternoon to you and in relation to the noted Ukraine Summit, which took to all your oYcials. Thank you very much for being place during our Presidency, and a revised counter- able to arrange this date. We entirely understood why terrorism strategy which necessarily, and perhaps you could not come last week. We are very grateful inevitably, received widespread currency after the that you are able to come so soon after nevertheless. tragic events in London here on 7 July. We welcome Is there anything that you would like to say to us the opportunity to be in front of the Committee before we move to questions? today. I just also take this opportunity to introduce Mr Alexander: Perhaps it might be helpful, with your the two oYcials supporting me today. We have Tim permission, Chairman, to make a brief introductory Barrow on my right, Deputy Political Director and statement to contextualise some of the specific Assistant for the European team, and also Hugh questions that the clerk has intimated to us. Of Powell, who is the Head of Security Policy Group. I course, we are grateful for the opportunity to discuss hope, with your permission, if there are specific the Common Foreign and Security Policy. As you are subjects on which they could assist the Committee, aware, ensuring an eVective and active CFSP was a they would also be able to join in answering your priority during the Presidency that has just past, and questions. I would highlight one or two of the key successes by way of introduction. We have launched a successful civilian ESDP mission in Ache—the first time there Q2 Chairman: We would be very pleased. Can I ask has been such a mission in Asia with the European you one question arising out of your introduction? Union beyond our borders—and, indeed, one at the You referred to the Ukraine and the negotiations Rafah border crossing in the Middle East, and also with them.