Statement on Prime Minister's Speech to Munich Security Conference
Defence, security and space trade association ADS welcomed the Prime Minister’s comments to the Munich Security Conference setting out the UK’s intention to continue involvement in important EU agencies and programmes in these areas – with full, fair and open participation by UK industries.
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said:
“The UK and the EU share deep common interests in defence and security, and the Prime Minister today set out the mutual interests we have in continuing to work closely together after Brexit.
“We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to seek full participation by the UK’s defence, security and space industries in strategic defence programmes and collaborative research projects.
“It is in the interests of both our national security and our national prosperity that UK and EU negotiators reach a deal that delivers continued UK membership of the European Defence Agency, the European Defence Fund and important space programmes like Galileo.
“There is now relatively little time to agree a final deal on Brexit and industry needs to see pragmatic decisions taken that translate this vision of continued close partnership into a firm agreement.”