David Cameron flies to Brussels to fight EU drones programme
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...programme.html
David Cameron fights off EU army plan
David Cameron tells a Brussels summit that "it isn't right" for the EU to have its own army and air force
Quote:
Originally Posted by Telegraph
David Cameron has blocked plans for European Union owned military forces and told a summit of Europe's leaders that Nato is the "bedrock" of defence in Europe.
The Prime Minister has told a Brussels summit that there can be no question of British support for proposals from Baroness Ashton and the European Commission for the EU to run its own military.
"It makes sense for nation states to co-operate over matters of defence to keep us safer," he said. "But it isn't right for the European Union to have capabilities, armies, air forces and all the rest of it. We need to get that demarcation right."
Diplomats told the Daily Telegraph that Mr Cameron personally intervened to ensure that references to "Europe's armed forces" were removed from a draft EU summit communique on defence cooperation.
Britain has blocked EU proposals, backed by France, Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany, that would have paved the way for developing a new fleet of unmanned surveillance drones and a European Air Force comprised of heavy transport and air-to-air refuelling planes.
A recent report by Lady Ashton's EU External Action Service revealed that work had already begun on ﾓremotely piloted aircraft systems", known as drones.
The drones will be known as Males, standing for "Medium Altitude Long Endurance" and under commission proposals would have been "directly purchased, owned and operated by the Union" along with military aircraft.
"There can be no question of the Commission owning dual-use military capabilities such as drones. Defence kit must be nationally owned and controlled and that should be clear to everyone," said a British diplomatic source.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary-general, attended the talks at Mr Cameron's request and backed him by insisting that there could be no question of military assets being owned by the EU, or the Alliance.
"Nato will remain the bedrock of Euro-Atlantic security," he said. "This is not about creating a European army. I am not talking about Nato or the EU possessing its own military capabilities. Iﾒm talking about nations investing in much needed capabilities. European nations need to invest."
During a "heated" summit debate, Martin Schulz, the speaker of the European Parliament called for the creation of a European army.
"If we wish to defend our values and interests, if we wish to maintain the security of our citizens, then a majority of MEPs consider that we need a headquarters for civil and military missions in Brussels and deployable troops," he said.
Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, the Conservative spokesman on European defence, said that the prime minister had "turned the tide on an EU army". "It's been a long haul to get to this position," he said.
Whilst i'm glad - if it's true - that these plans have been or are being blocked (for now), what do Mr Cameron and supporters of our membership of the European Union not understand? The treaties make quite clear that the principle aim of the organisation is "ever closer union" and that means a continual surrender of powers from the national level to the EU. From agriculture to fisheries, from welfare to immigration, from local government to the armed forces - it's all going to go to Brussels.
For the 1000th time, it's either in or out. Time to make the choice.
Thoughts?
