91998E4091

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4091/98

by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Council

(15 January 1999)

Subject: European coordination of defence industries

The approach of NATO's fiftieth anniversary is being accompanied by a succession of studies into the major changes which have occurred on the international scene during the 50 years of NATO's existence and the need for an agreement concerning tasks and challenges for the future. The differences in the political views held by America and Europe may become more accentuated if ways are not found of establishing cooperation between the defence industries on either side of the Atlantic with a view to developing the new technology of the 21st century.

Does the Council believe that the European defence industry will soon achieve a sufficient size and degree of coordination capability to allow constructive dialogue with the highly integrated industry in the USA? In this connection, what would be the effect of the differences in legal status which exist between the major defence companies of Germany and the United Kingdom, which are privately owned, and those in France, which are mainly in the public sector?

Reply

(22 April 1999)

As the Honourable Member is certainly aware, the ad hoc Group on the European Armaments Policy (POLARM) was established in 1995 to address issues related to the European armaments policy and to submit recommendations to the Council on the possible follow-up both by measures taken in the Community framework and according to Title V of the EU-Treaty. Furthermore, the future Article 17 of the Treaty on European Union states that "the progressive framing of a common defence policy will be supported, as Member States consider appropriate, by cooperation between them in the field of armaments."

The POLARM Group is currently examining a Communication by the Commission entitled "Implementing European Union strategy on defence-related industries". This Communication includes both a Plan of Action for defence industries and a proposal for a Common Position on drawing up a European armaments policy.

As to the Honourable Member's last question, the rules in Member States governing the system of property ownership do not fall within the remit of the Council.