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<p>I frequently have calls with my NATO counterparts and discuss a range of issues
including NATO. We are in regular contact with Romania and NATO Allies on the implementation
of NATO’s Readiness Action Plan (RAP) agreed at the Wales Summit last September, which
includes the development of the NATO Force Integration Units (NFIU) in six eastern
Allies. In March 2015, the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the
Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon), visited Romania, calling on the President, Prime
Minister and Defence Minister to discuss these issues. NATO Defence Ministers met
in Brussels on 24-25 June to assess progress since Wales. It was agreed that overall
there continued to be good progress on RAP implementation and that the six NFIUs would
be fully manned by the end of the year. The UK is playing a leading role in this effort.
Romania’s NFIU will support planning, conduct host nation liaison and facilitate the
rapid deployment of the new Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. The UK will support
the NFIU through the provision of a Staff Officer.</p>
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