Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the Berlin plus arrangements under Operation Althea.

Operation Althea is and will remain an important contributor to the Safe and Secure Environment that is essential for the security and stability of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Under the 'Berlin Plus' arrangements, the EU's Operation Althea has access to NATO assets and capabilities. Berlin Plus arrangements are not affected by Brexit.

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK would not be able to continue to contribute to Operation Althea without a third country agreement between the EU and the UK. Therefore, all UK personnel deployed to the EU operation would withdraw. We have made clear to the EU that we are open to reaching an agreement to ensure continuity of the UK's contribution to the Operation.

The UK fully supports the objectives of Operation Althea, its continuing UN Chapter VII mandate, and the Berlin Plus arrangements from which it benefits. We will continue to do so as we leave the EU, and we intend to maintain a UK contribution to the Operation in the event of a deal and an implementation period.