Press Release: Follow-up on Hampton Court discussions regarding certain CFSP aspects

At the informal European Council at Hampton Court on 27 October 2005, the Heads of State and Government noted the European Union's rapid expansion in crisis management and its increasingly important role in the world. Following these discussions the Presidency asked Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, to take work forward in four specific areas and to provide initial orientations for the December meeting of the European Council.

Press release takes the form of a letter to President of the European Council, Tony Blair, and incorporates four short papers covering the following areas:
- improving EU defence capabilities by increasing levels of research spending, finding opportunities for research collaboration, tackling capability gaps and collaborating as partners on training;
− ensuring EU crisis management structures can meet the new demands on them including for responding to natural disasters;
− increasing CFSP funding, with a better way to finance civilian operations rapidly;
− ensuring the EU is ready to assume greater responsibility in Kosovo and improving the co-ordination of EU action in the Balkans, especially on organised crime.