Strasbourg, 14/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - Answering questions, Council President Mr Seixas da Costa and European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten reviewed with the EP the development of the European security and defence policy (ESDP). On Thursday, the plenary will adopt a resolution tabled by Mrs Lalumièere on this subject.
To brief MEPs, the Council President summarised the main points of the report to be presented next week to the Feira Summit and endorsed by the General Affairs Council on Tuesday (see page 3). According to Mr Seixas da Costa, the Presidency and all Member States consider that a revision of the Treaty to include ESDP is not necessary for the moment. Pending further developments, current Treaty provisions and existing instruments suffice, he stated. He also announced that the Committee on Civil Crisis Management would be holding its first meeting on 15 June. He described the immediate objectives of the ESDP and discussed the question of Article V of the WEU Treaty (automatic mutual assistance between Member States).
EUROPE will report further tomorrow on the vote and on Mr Seixas da Costa and Mr Patten's declarations.