Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the UK’s Armed Forces joining the Military Mobility Permanent Structured Cooperation project.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has underlined the importance of addressing any impediments to moving military personnel and assets across Europe at pace. Joining the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Military Mobility project would better enable the UK to shape relevant rules and requirements including cross-border military transport procedures.

Our NATO Allies Canada, Norway and the USA have already joined the PESCO Military Mobility project. We support all efforts to increase cooperation between EU partners and NATO Allies; including ensuring that bodies such as NATO, the EU and the Joint Expeditionary Force are working to complement each other.