Brussels, 19/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the Spanish Minister of Defence, Federico Trillo exchanged views with the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Security and Defence. The issues discussed included the Spanish Presidency of the Council of Europe's priorities in defence matters. A press statement described the almost unanimous support by MEPs for the objectives set out by the Presidency at the beginning of the year. Mr Trillo declared that Spanish initiatives had been "very well received" and referred to the CFSP changes brought about by the events of 11 September and the consequences that could occur by reducing the gap between European and the USA in the field of weapons, especially after the enormous increase in the US military budget envisaged for 2003 and coming years.
Minister Trillo was eager to stress the importance of a European arms policy and emphasised that a single arms agency needed to be set up, as well as the co-ordination of investment in this area. Spain intends holding regular meetings with those in charge of arms policy in the different Member States and develop common military criteria for making good deficiencies in military equipment that are brought to light. Mr Trillo explained that on a more general level, Spain wants to see the European action plan for the development of capability, approved at Laeken put into practice. He also pointed out in a document prepared for the meeting with MEPs that the plan had been launched on 11 February and twelve working groups are due to address the question of military shortfalls. He said that they were aware that the working groups did not cover all the problems (no less than 40 weak areas have been identified) but that it was a genuine effort to address the issue. Amongst some of the weaknesses the groups will deal with are strategic transport, munitions and guided missiles, attack helicopters, control command systems, communications and intelligence and theatre missile defence (TMD).
With regard to the proposal of creating a Council of European Defence Ministers, Federico Trillo indicated that Spain would invite NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson to a ministerial meeting of this nature in May (see above). The ultimate objective would be to create a Formal EU Member States Defence Ministers Council which will set out its own timetable.