On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 15 countries from the EU bloc, which included even Britain, came together to sign their “first project” which will be carried out under the “new defence research fund” of the EU. The said incident is the most recent step taken towards the integration of “European militaries and their industries”.
The EU grant of “35-million-euro”, although is a “modest”, has been dedicated to “naval surveillance technology” and it aims to expand from its “pilot phase to a multi-mullion-euro undertaking” by the year of 2021. Talking to the reports following the “signing ceremony”, the “European Industry Commissioner”, Elzbieta Bienkowska said:
“It’s an important moment, we’ve managed to gather together 42 companies from 15 member states”.
The said project under the name of “Ocean2020” will be led by “Leonardo SPA” Group, an “aerospace, defence and security” expert, and will include “Estonia, France, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden”. As per officials for many years the slash in defence research has generated risks on the capabilities of the European military’s future. However, at present, “France and Germany” are at the front of the “board” which is trying to “develop and deploy the bloc’s armed forces together”.
Following an outbreak of “diplomatic breakthroughs” on “defence collaboration” once the “main military power” of Europe including France voted in favour of Brexit, the signing has been a taken place as a result of the above mentioned incident’s consequence. However, for a long time London had been pushing back “such plans” in the fear of creating “EU armed forces”.
Once Britain’s oppositions no longer was a consideration after the decision of Brexit, the EU states who face numerous border threats from the “Caucasus to the Sahara”, came up with the decision of integrating defences. In fact, earlier in this month itself, around twenty five countries showed their consent on developing the “first joint projects” of the pact.
Furthermore, Reuters reported:
“The European Commission has proposed a 1.5 billion euro annual European Defence Fund to support defence capabilities that will include 500 million euros for defence research, up from the current 90-million-euro pilot phase.
“The Commission hopes EU governments will add to the fund to develop projects and weapons, eventually taking it towards 5 billion euros a year, with assets owned by member states”.
Moreover, the “long-term” goal of EU is in line with NATO, while Britain has concerns as it could be left outside the circle of the brewing “new cooperation and missing” on the weapons related project. As a result, Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May wants to create a “security treaty” between the Britain and the EU by the year of 2019.
However, it still remains to be clarified if Britain will be allowed to work on “Ocean2020” after its official exit from the EU. While, the C.E.O of Leonardo SPA Group, Alessandro Profumo sees it important to have Britain on board for the integrated defence efforts “partly” because “Italian firm has 7,000 staff in Britain”. In his words:
“Not only for us but for the European defence system, we need the U.K.”.
While Britain is hopeful about the future “security treaty” and looks forward to begin the talks, EU officials reported that May would require to present a “formal paper” carrying the details of her ideas, and after which the EU along with the British “negotiators” will take the case forward.
References:
reuters.com
The EU grant of “35-million-euro”, although is a “modest”, has been dedicated to “naval surveillance technology” and it aims to expand from its “pilot phase to a multi-mullion-euro undertaking” by the year of 2021. Talking to the reports following the “signing ceremony”, the “European Industry Commissioner”, Elzbieta Bienkowska said:
“It’s an important moment, we’ve managed to gather together 42 companies from 15 member states”.
The said project under the name of “Ocean2020” will be led by “Leonardo SPA” Group, an “aerospace, defence and security” expert, and will include “Estonia, France, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden”. As per officials for many years the slash in defence research has generated risks on the capabilities of the European military’s future. However, at present, “France and Germany” are at the front of the “board” which is trying to “develop and deploy the bloc’s armed forces together”.
Following an outbreak of “diplomatic breakthroughs” on “defence collaboration” once the “main military power” of Europe including France voted in favour of Brexit, the signing has been a taken place as a result of the above mentioned incident’s consequence. However, for a long time London had been pushing back “such plans” in the fear of creating “EU armed forces”.
Once Britain’s oppositions no longer was a consideration after the decision of Brexit, the EU states who face numerous border threats from the “Caucasus to the Sahara”, came up with the decision of integrating defences. In fact, earlier in this month itself, around twenty five countries showed their consent on developing the “first joint projects” of the pact.
Furthermore, Reuters reported:
“The European Commission has proposed a 1.5 billion euro annual European Defence Fund to support defence capabilities that will include 500 million euros for defence research, up from the current 90-million-euro pilot phase.
“The Commission hopes EU governments will add to the fund to develop projects and weapons, eventually taking it towards 5 billion euros a year, with assets owned by member states”.
Moreover, the “long-term” goal of EU is in line with NATO, while Britain has concerns as it could be left outside the circle of the brewing “new cooperation and missing” on the weapons related project. As a result, Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May wants to create a “security treaty” between the Britain and the EU by the year of 2019.
However, it still remains to be clarified if Britain will be allowed to work on “Ocean2020” after its official exit from the EU. While, the C.E.O of Leonardo SPA Group, Alessandro Profumo sees it important to have Britain on board for the integrated defence efforts “partly” because “Italian firm has 7,000 staff in Britain”. In his words:
“Not only for us but for the European defence system, we need the U.K.”.
While Britain is hopeful about the future “security treaty” and looks forward to begin the talks, EU officials reported that May would require to present a “formal paper” carrying the details of her ideas, and after which the EU along with the British “negotiators” will take the case forward.
References:
reuters.com
