Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 37: To ask the Minister for Defence the agenda for the EU Defence ministerial conference in October 2005 at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25797/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A number of informal meetings of EU defence ministers have been held in recent years. The meetings have been a useful forum for informal discussions focused on promoting dialogue between defence ministers in the context of the continued development of the European Security and Defence Policy. An informal meeting of EU defence ministers is scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2005. The meeting will include a capabilities demonstration on air-to-air refuelling. Progress on Operation Althea will be discussed over a working lunch. The meeting will be followed by a meeting of the steering board of the European Defence Agency. An agenda has not yet been finalised for this meeting.