Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that agreements on defence and security collaboration between the UK and the EU made under the Permanent Structured Cooperation regime are subject to appropriate and timely scrutiny by Parliament.

The UK's interest in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) military mobility project was discussed in the House of Commons debate on 19 May 2022, at a Commons Defence Committee evidence session on 2 November 2022. Leo Docherty MP, Minister for Europe, also discussed PESCO military mobility at two Lords European Affairs Committee evidence sessions on 7 March and 12 December 2023.

The Commons European Scrutiny Committee has also opened an inquiry into 'PESCO and UK-EU Defence Cooperation' to which HMG submitted written evidence in July 2023.