WRITTEN QUESTION P-1132/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(15 April 2002)

Subject: Access to information about the STAR 21 talks

On 6 July 2001 the new Advisory Group STAR 21 met for the first time. Its purpose is to ascertain whether the existing political and regulatory framework needs to be amended to enable the aerospace and defence industries to remain competitive. The Advisory Group originally hoped to adopt recommendations in around March 2002. Its tasks include reviewing procurement policy and cross-border trade in military equipment.

STAR 21 includes no fewer than five European Commissioners and seven of the most prominent captains of industry in the aerospace and defence industries. It also includes two Members of the European Parliament (not appointed by the European Parliament) and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. There are no representatives of the civil sector or NGOs. Yet in many cases it is left to NGOs to take care of victims of arms exports for which excessively lax controls on arms exports are to blame. The view taken by the defence industry in this connection is all too clear: it wishes to secure the elimination of as many barriers to exports as possible. The aerospace and defence industries do not automatically serve the interests of Europe, but are primarily concerned with increasing the value of their shares.

The results of the STAR 21 talks between senior representatives of the defence industry and Members of the Commission will undoubtedly affect the future European security and defence policy. Yet they are being held in comparative secrecy.

Will the Commission forward the reports of the STAR 21 Advisory Group to the European Parliament?

Can the Commission give a progress report on its work?

Why, when such an important area of policy is under debate, have no representatives of civil society been invited to sit on the Advisory Group?

How will it seek the advice of NGOs on amendments to the political and regulatory framework for procurement policy and cross-border trade in military equipment?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 2002)

The Commission has long recognised the importance of competitive aerospace and defence industries in Europe as a key component in enabling the Union to realise its goals.

In that context the Commission would draw to the attention of the Honourable Member its Communication of 24 September 1997 on The European Aerospace Industry meeting the global challenge(1) and its action plan on defence Implementing European Union strategy on defence-related industries(2). The need to address defence procurement issues and cross border trade was identified as a priority in these Communications.

In 2001 following a request from the aerospace industry to the President of the Commission, and against the background of the changes which have taken place in the sector in recent years, an advisory group whose members sit in an individual capacity, was given the task to analyse the existing political and regulatory framework for aerospace in Europe, to highlight any deficiencies, and to make recommendations for improvements.

As regards the representation on the group, the members concerned are considered to be well placed to address the key economic and political developments in the Union's policies which are most likely to affect the competitiveness of the aerospace industry.

The group, which has met twice so far, has looked at five areas where action could help to secure the future of the industry and consolidate its position in the interests of the Union as a whole competing on world markets, the operating environment for aerospace, European governance of civil aviation, the developing European defence market and sustaining a European space policy.

The group has not made any interim reports and expects to be in a position to present its final report by July 2002 to the President of the Commission. The report, which will be published, will be provided to all the Community Institutions including the Parliament.

If representatives of civil society, including non governmental organisations (NGOs) wish to provide their views on any aspect dealt with in the report they will be free to do so. It should be pointed out also that the advisory group's role is to carry out an analysis and to make recommendations. It has no decision making function and its deliberations are conducted in the same way as in the case of comparable groups.

As regards defence matters, the Commission draws the attention of the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Oral Question 0-90/01 by Mr Brok during question's time at Parliament's April 2002 session(3) in relation to its future intentions as regards the defence related industries. The Commission welcomes also the initiative of the Parliament to adopt a Resolution (2002-0172) on European defence industries.

(1) COM(97) 466 final.

(2) COM(97) 583 final.

(3) Oral reply, 19.4.2002.