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Committee seeks views on Common Security and Defence Policy missions post-Brexit

12 January 2018

The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee has published its Call for Evidence for the Brexit: Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions inquiry. Written evidence should be submitted online by 7 February 2018.

Background

The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee has launched an inquiry into possible UK co-operation with the EU on Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions after Brexit. The inquiry will explore the value of CSDP missions to the UK's pursuit of its foreign policy goals, how UK participation in these missions post-Brexit could be facilitated, what role the UK might play in the planning of missions after Brexit, and how far this would depend on the UK's co-operation in other areas of the EU's foreign and security policy after withdrawal.

The inquiry will consider the EU Rule of Law Missions (EULEX) Kosovo and the EU Training Missions (EUTM) Somalia (with reference to Operation Atalanta), and may, in the course of the inquiry, also consider EU missions in Mali.

Chair's comments

Chair of the EU External Affairs Sub-Committee, Baroness Verma, said:

"The UK supports all 16 of the EU's military and civilian missions and last autumn the Government outlined its ambition for the UK to work closely with the EU, after Brexit, on CSDP missions.

"We are looking to understand what the value of CSDP missions is to the UK's foreign policy goals and how the UK could continue to participate post-Brexit. We want to explore the role, if any, the UK could play in planning future missions and how much this depends on the UK's co-operation in other areas of the EU's foreign and security policy.

"Our inquiry would benefit greatly from hearing as many views and experiences as possible. Written evidence is vital to informing our work and I would encourage anyone with knowledge, or an interest in this area, to return a submission by 1 February 2018."

Further information

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