BBC scoop on French EU military plans

[ibis]

Same old, same old. The French always have "big" proposals, and naff-all happens, because only the French like them. Still, they make good boogeyman material.

The commitment in Lisbon doesn't commit us - or anyone else - to accept a daft French plan which would involve virtually every member state doubling its military spending. None of them can afford it, including the French.

[Helium Three]

In the BBC report we also learn about the views of the Chair of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee.

An influential Polish member of the European parliament has called for the EU to develop “hard power” and spend more money to build a European army.

Foreign affairs committee chairman Jacek Saryusz-Wolski also wants the European parliament to have the final say on deployments under the EU flag.

[corkman2007]

Would you ever cop-on with posting politicians' statements?

Show where the Treaty of Lisbon forces Ireland to participate in any of this.

[Helium Three]

Would you ever cop-on with posting politicians' statements?

No. They teach us things.

You do not have to read them if you prefer not to.

[corkman2007]

They teach us that politicians are full of waffle and hot-air a lot of the time.

They don't teach us anything about the contents of the treaty.

[Helium Three]

ed

[Helium Three]

The TNS/MRBI says that neutrality is the third most widely cited reason for a No vote. This BBC report of the French plan is politically explosive coming in the last week of the referendum campaign.

If this is picked up by our own media this section of the No vote will hold, if not expand.

[Ulster-Lad]

So what if they decided to put this new EU military headquarters in Ireland? Do we get a veto there? It is only a planning thing after all.

[Helium Three]

Is that what Bord Pleanala mean by Strategic Infrastructural Development then?

[arnold lane]

Meanwhile the mandarins continue to plan their version of our future.

Here is a peep behind the curtain.

With thanks to the BBC and Mark Mardell

The French have said beefing up the EU's military capability will be a key part of their six-month presidency.

The BBC has been told their plans also include a new EU military headquarters.

Other items on the French list of proposals involve calling upon all EU countries to increase spending on defence to meet a new target of perhaps 6% of Gross Domestic Product.

More aircraft

France's leadership of the EU will also include a push for the creation of more rapid reaction forces to enable Europe to collectively undertake three simultaneous missions.

They also want more helicopters and aircraft to be made available for missions.

The EU will not officially comment until the proposals are unveiled by French President Sarkozy in two weeks time.

So what? WE HAVE A VETO! D'oh!

That's right.
And we're using it next week...