Summary: The PMG carries out staff work for the Political and Security Committee (PSC). It covers the political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions.
At stake: The PMG has a particular role in relationships with non-EU cooperation, including with NATO. UK association should though be ‘on the other side of the fence looking in’.
What they say: “The approach adopted since Helsinki makes the Political and Security Committee (PSC) the linchpin of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)” – Council Note 11127/03, leading to the development of PMG support.
Exposure: Membership should end with Brexit. Future forms of association remain unclear. Action: MPs should seek to confirm UK participation will end.
Deep dive: https://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2011127%202003%20INIT
