.@CommonsDefence has published its report on the UK government's proposals for a future security partnership with the European Union, based in part on oral evidence I gave at the end of last year: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cm…
I am more pessimistic than I was then: the Defence Fund proposals are not leaving much room for third country involvement, and the Galileo negotiations have set a problematic precedent for the restrictive view the EU takes on the UK as a third country in defence.
Galileo was a perfect storm - bc of ESA contract deadlines negotiations were rushed, member-states not very involved, political pressure in the UK very high, messaging at times misleading. Hopefully negotiations can recover from fall-out, perhaps even take this as cautionary tale
On a more positive note, the Benelux proposal to open PESCO up to third countries charts a useful approach to integrating the UK in future operations. (). The Intervention Initiative is another sign that member-states want to keep the UK involved.
In my evidence I have sought to point out the mutual benefit of co-operating closely in the field and during capability development, and I stand by that - The @CommonsDefence report raises some important questions, I recommend it.
