Paris, 16 June 2010 – H.E. Mr Carlos FERNANDEZ-ARIAS MINUESA, representing the current Spanish EU/WEU Presidency, paid tribute to WEU and acknowledged that it was essential to continue parliamentary scrutiny of the CSDP.

Presenting the traditional briefing of the outgoing Presidency to the European Security and Defence Assembly (ESDA), the Ambassador underscored the “key role” played over the last decades by WEU, which is due to be wound down by the end of June 2011. “WEU has fulfilled its historic role in promoting the development of a security and defence policy” before the EU “takes over” and “Lisbon opens up a new path”. “We should also pay tribute to the valuable work of this Assembly and its steadfast contribution since 1955 to the development of a European security and defence culture. It is largely thanks to WEU that the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) saw the light of day. The CSDP will give greater coherence to the EU and afford it a higher profile in the world”.

In the course of the ensuing debate, several parliamentarians expressed regret that no clear plan had been put forward for the continuation of interparliamentary scrutiny of the CSDP prior to the announcement of the decision to close down WEU on 31 March last. The Ambassador replied that “the decision was not a priority for us and it was arrived at independently of the Spanish Presidency”. He went on to say that the proposed timetable for closure of one year was not set in stone and recalled that it would be up to the incoming Belgian Presidency and “depositary state of the modified Brussels Treaty” to follow the matter up.

“I do not know what will replace the Assembly”, the Ambassador added. In his view, in order to ensure parliamentary scrutiny of the CSDP, the EU “needs a similar structure to what we have here today” (the ESDA). In the end it would be up to the national parliaments “to decide on the form of their cooperation, whichever structure is chosen. It is up to them to push for the right to exercise democratic oversight of the CSDP”.