EU: The European Union's foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, has named a senior British defence official to head a new EU arms procurement agency.
Mr Nick Witney, director general of international security at Britain's Ministry of Defence, will be responsible for setting up the agency, which aims to boost the EU's military efficiency by co-ordinating member-states defence purchases.
Mr Witney's appointment followed a tussle between London and Paris, and it is understood that a deal has been agreed to allow him to be succeeded by a French candidate.
France wants the new agency to play an important role in creating a stronger EU defence identity by defining a European arms procurement strategy.
Britain however believes the agency should act as a small lobby group that can argue and broker solutions to enhance European countries' defence capacities in close cooperation with NATO.