Under this package of measures, NATO will allow the EU assured access to its planning capacities, and a presumption of availability of its common assets and capabilities for use in EU-led operations. In other words, the EU will have access by right to NATO planning capacities, and access to other assets and capabilities unless there are good reasons otherwise. Of course, real capability improvements don't happen overnight, but we are making a good start. In Britain, we are already changing the way our armed forces operate as a result of the Strategic Defence Review. We have set up a new Joint Rapid Reaction Force and a Joint Helicopter Force, to name but two examples, which combine people from all three Services.
British forces remain ready to react rapidly to crisis anywhere in the world.
The way we responded to the situation in Sierra Leone is a good example of how quickly we are able to mobilise, and our recently announced new orders for transport aircraft and missiles will further improve our capabilities. We are not talking about building a European Army. Individual countries, not the European Commission, will decide whether, when and how to commit their forces. And national governments will continue to be answerable to national parliaments, not the European Parliament, for the use of their forces. These need to be serious and well organised, but they will not be large bureaucracies.