Germany to push for EU Army *AFTER* British referendum
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e90a080e-1...#axzz47Wzb4nDt
Germany to push for EU Army
Germany delays the push for an EU Army - that would end the Royal Navy, British Army and RAF - until after the British June referendum
Quote:
Originally Posted by Financial Times
Germany is to push for progress towards a European army by advocating a joint headquarters and shared military assets, according to defence plans that could ricochet into Britain’s EU referendum campaign.
Although Berlin has long paid lip-service to forming a “European defence union”, the white paper is one of the most significant for Germany in recent years and may be seized by anti-integration Brexit campaigners as a sign where the bloc is heading.
Initially scheduled to emerge shortly before the June 23 referendum vote but now probably delayed to July, the draft paper seen by the Financial Times outlines steps to gradually co-ordinate Europe’s patchwork of national militaries and embark on permanent co-operation under common structures.
In this and other areas, its tone reflects Germany’s growing clout and confidence in pursuing a foreign policy backed by elements of hard power. Initiatives range from strengthening cyberwarfare abilities to contentious proposals to relax the postwar restrictions on army operations within Germany.
“German security policy has relevance — also far beyond our country,” the paper states. “Germany is willing to join early, decisively and substantially as a driving force in international debates . . . to take responsibility and assume leadership”. Jan Techau, a former defence official at Carnegie Europe, said: “This is the time of a new Germany. This is probably the first time a German defence white paper is something like important.”
At the European level, the paper calls for “the use of all possibilities” available under EU treaties to establish deep co-operation between willing member states, create a joint civil-military headquarters for EU operations, a council of defence ministers, and better co-ordinate the production and sharing of military equipment.
“The creation of a European army is a long way off, but it is a strategic necessity to implement important steps to pave the way towards it now,” wrote Roderich Kiesewetter, a Bundestag foreign affairs committee member, in a recent paper. Berlin is aware that its call for more European defence — long a bugbear of British Eurosceptics — could inadvertently resonate in the UK referendum campaign. Although publication was first expected in early June, this has been delayed to July, according to people familiar with the process.
Liam Fox, former UK defence secretary and Brexit supporter, said that “many in the European project see Nato as an impediment to ever closer union”.
Mr Fox added: “Their every instinct is to move towards European defence co-operation. The problem is that while they are unwilling to spend money, it is a dangerous fantasy that diverts money away from Nato.”
The end of our own independent armed forces and the end of a thousand years of independence. How much more clearer do they need to spell it out before some will wake up and smell the coffee? Even worse, they're delaying pushing ahead with it until AFTER the British referendum.
As my Dad said a few weeks ago... if we do vote to Remain inside, imagine how badly we're going to be treated once they know we're not going to withdraw. They're going to take us for the ride of our lives: both in terms of how much we have to pay in and how many powers they can seize.
Of course @abc; & @The Don; will tell you that I can't debate, I am just making it all up, you should ignore me and that it's just a trade bloc.
Thoughts?
