Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the meeting of EU Defence Ministers on 15 May 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24139/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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An informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers was held in Brussels on 15 May 2006. At the meeting, progress on the development of Strategic Airlift and the Implementation of the Battlegroup Concept were reviewed. Another important step was the completion of the Requirements Catalogue 2005 and the finalisation of the Headline Goal Questionnaire. It is envisaged that the Force Catalogue will be produced in the second semester of 2006.

A report was received from the Operational Commander of the planned EU Support mission in the Congo. As the House will be aware, Ireland offered up to 10 Staff Officers for the Headquarters. The mission is oversubscribed, so 7 of the 10 will be deployed, 5 in Potsdam in the Operational Headquarters and 2 in Kinshasa in the Force Headquarters.

Progress made by the Austrian Presidency on Civil Military Coordination (CMCO), was reviewed. CMCO is an initiative commenced under the UK Presidency and will continue through the forthcoming Finnish Presidency. This issue has to do with the very practical matter of co-ordinating the various strands of EU civil and military actions in crisis management operations so as there is an overall coherence to the EU's approach. There was a discussion on Security Sector reform regarding the need for increased coordination among the EU institutions and other international actors so as to maximise the impact of our joint efforts on Security Sector Reform in the Balkans.

On the same day, the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency (EDA) met. Developments to support improved competition within the European Defence market were discussed and a Code of Best Practice in the Supply Chain was agreed. The proposals are designed to facilitate increased competition among sub-contractors supplying the larger equipment producers. This should result in increased opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's). The Steering Board had previously agreed a Code of Conduct in defence procurement, which will become operational from 1 July 2006, and which will help to open up the defence procurement market generally.