Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
Ensure demonstrable benefits from the ongoing EU defence relationship are adequately explained to the UK public.
Conclusion
It is vital that British defence industry is not sidelined or excluded from working with their European counterparts—that will be the key measure (in relation to defence) of success when assessing the Government’s relationship with the EU. The Government will need to 58 ensure that its ongoing defence relationship with the EU produces benefits which are demonstrable and adequately explained to the UK public. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on collaboration and commits to maintaining close industrial and defence relationships with European partners. It will also ensure that the benefits of its ongoing defence relationship with the EU are clearly communicated to the UK public as part of its engagement activity.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We agree with the Committee that collaboration with European partners is essential. The Government is committed to maintaining close industrial and defence relationships with European nations, as set out in the UK’s DIS. In order to effectively deter and defend against increased aggression, we need to work closely with UK industry partners and our European allies (including EU member states) to inform our approach to enhancing Europe’s defence industrial capacity and capability. In line with NATO First as the defining principle of the SDR, our DIS reaffirmed our commitment to collaboration within the Alliance. This will develop our collective industrial base, which will in turn deliver NATO critical warfighting capabilities, strengthen our collective security and support growth and economies of scale. The strategy also reinforced our commitment to delivering NATO’s Defence Production Action Plan, Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge and Rapid Adoption Action Plan. As part of these efforts, we have expanded our defence industrial relationships by strengthening the European complex weapons industrial base through commitments with France under Lancaster House 2.0; strengthening the land combat industrial sector through the Trinity House agreement with Germany; and expanding the ambition of our enduring defence partnership with Norway through the Type 26 procurement, which will sustain 4.000 jobs and crucially help to secure European shores in the long-term. The Government remains committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU to deliver on the package agreed at the UK-EU Summit, including work to implement and build on our landmark Security and Defence Partnership. We will ensure that benefits are clearly communicated to the UK public as part of our communications and engagement activity.