http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=9092
British military bases abroad should come under control of the EU, a new report presented to the EU Parliament has said.
Military facilities including the naval base at Gibraltar, and bases in Falklands and Cyprus should be controlled by the EU in an effort to safeguard European interests abroad and secure vital trade routes, the report said.
The report, commissioned by the EU's security and defence committee examines how Europe should respond the growing military capabilities of emerging nations such as China.
Using the defence assets of EU members would help in responding to new threats and balancing the power between Europe and the rest of the world.
"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," the report stated.
Either the EU would have to fund the costly construction of naval and other military bases around the world, or it could simply incorporate existing bases that are owned by current EU members, mainly France and Britain.
The EU already has its eyes on Britain's two new aircraft carriers as well, saying in the report that "these vessels will provide the Royal Navy - and potentially, the EU - with a greatly enhanced expeditionary and maritime power projection capability."
In conclusion the report said that British and French military assets would help expand the EU's "grand strategy". Federalists within the EU want to see a common defence and foreign policy in which Europe would have elements of one military.
Conservative shadow Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, called the report a "twisted fantasy."
The MoD also reacted coolely to the report's reccomendations, saying that British bases belonged only to Britain.
"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," a spokesperson said.
