Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to seek (a) formal participation in the European Defence Agency and (b) attendance at meetings of the Steering Board of that Agency after the UK leaves the EU.

The UK is leaving the EU but remains committed to European defence and security.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has a central coordinating role between EU Member States, the European Commission, and countries outside the EU (which must have an Administrative Arrangement with the EDA agreed by all participating Member States) in the development of defence capabilities. The level of future UK cooperation with the EDA forms part of the wider EU withdrawal negotiations.