Thread: EU's 'Twisted' Plan to Take Over Brtitish Military Bases

EU’S ‘TWISTED’ PLAN TO TAKE OVER BRITISH MILITARY BASES

Wednesday April 1,2009
By John Ingham Have your say(2)
A EUROPEAN Union plan to put British military bases under Brussels’ control was branded a “twisted fantasyâ€

What would Nelson say? EU says our naval bases should be controlled by Brussels
Matthew Hickley
Last updated at 11:17 PM on 31st March 2009

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Britain's naval bases around the world should be put under the control of Brussels, according to a report commissioned by the European Union.

It says military facilities in the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Cyprus should become part of an EU 'forward presence' to help safeguard Europe's trade routes.

The proposals would also see France forced to put its military bases in Africa and South America under EU control.

They goes so far as to suggest that two aircraft carriers being built for the Royal Navy should become an EU 'capability'.

The idea drew a rebuttal from the Ministry of Defence, which insisted British facilities would remain under British control.

The study was commissioned by the European Parliament's security and defence committee as part of analysis into how the EU should respond to emerging military powers in Asia.

The report calls for ' institutional reforms' within the EU. It concludes: 'The EU member states' military installations - mainly French and British - would provide a formidable asset for the geographical and functional expansion of EU grand strategy.'

Geoffrey Van Orden, the Tories' EU defence spokesman, said: 'This has nothing to do with a genuine contribution to European security and everything to do with EU promotion of its own misplaced military ambitions.'

As the world power balance becomes more complex and uncertain, the report adds, 'there is a growing and compelling need for Europeans to take responsibility for the Sea Lines of Communication that link them to the farthest corners of the world, particularly those most vital to European trade and security.'

Sea lanes can only be secured with a costly network of forward bases, the study argues, and the answer is 'further EU co-operation to ‘Europeanise’ the Anglo-French forward presence and undergird EU maritime security more effectively.'

The report calls for 'institutional reforms' within the EU, adding: 'One of these may be for Britain and France to transfer the maintenance and upkeep of their military installations to a central institution, funded by all of the Member States.'

To oversee the changes, the EU must appoint a new 'Special Representative for Geostrategy'.

Referring to Britain's two new giant aircraft carriers, the report adds: 'The sheer size and capability of these vessels will provide the Royal Navy - and potentially, the EU - with a greatly enhanced expeditionary and maritime power projection capability.'

Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are particularly emotive issues for Britain.

During the 1982 conflict 255 British servicemen died to recapture the Falklands from Argentina, while Gibraltar's sovereignty remains a bone of contention between the UK and Spain.

Enthusiasts for European Defence want to see a common EU foreign policy backed by centrally-controlled EU military forces.

France has championed the cause for years and Nicolas Sarkozy is using France's six-month EU presidency to push proposals for a new EU military headquarters in Brussels and more EU Rapid Reaction Forces, each made up of 1,500 troops from member states.

But opponents fear an EU Army will become a building block for a future European super-state.

Britain's Defence Secretary John Hutton fuelled concerns on taking office last year when he dismissed opposition to closer EU military ties as 'pathetic'.

Shadow Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox warned today: 'Talk of a Grand Strategy betrays the real intentions of the European Commission.

'The idea that we might turn our military bases over to the EU, for projects the British people have never given their assent to, is a twisted fantasy.'s.'

An MoD spokesman played down the proposals, saying use of British bases was a decision for the UK Government.

He added: 'The UK's policy remains that there will be no standing European army, navy or air force. We have just one set of military forces and they don't belong to either NATO or the EU - they belong to us.'


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