THE EU
Below is an item from the Daily Telegraph which is self-explanatory:
EU ignores constitution vote to launch anti-terror squad
By Justin Stares and Patrick Hennessy
European leaders were accused of "cherry picking" from the moribund European Union constitution last night after agreeing to create a pan-European counter-terrorism force.
At the Brussels European summit, all 25 member states agreed to pool assets - police, civil protection and military - and place them at the disposal of Javier Solana, the EU's foreign minister-in-waiting.
Such a move had been planned in the constitution which was rejected by voters in France and Holland last year. The constitution has been left on the shelf although Europe's leaders want it up and running again by 2008. Minutes of the summit show that the kernel of the counter-terrorism force, the "crisis steering group", will be operational in a fortnight.
The EU presidency, currently held by Austria, has drawn up a "manual" of forces and assets which can be called on following an attack in any country.
Last night, Eurosceptics reacted with outrage. Chris Heaton-Harris, the Tory Euro-MP, said: "This is another example of the Soviet-style regime which rides roughshod over democratic votes in France and the Netherlands.
In both countries voters said No to the constitution and, specifically, No to a continent-wide anti-terror force.
This is meant to be a time for reflection - but instead the EU is cherry picking from the constitution.
" Defending the agreement, Jesus Carmona, the spokesman on counter-terrorism for Europe's council of ministers, said the force would not constitute standing troops but "officers" from a pool, who could be called on when necessary.
It would operate in another member state only at the request of the government. The size of the force had not been defined, he said.
The latest, EU-wide agreement follows preparatory talks between the six largest nations - the G6, which includes Britain.
The G6 is not an EU institution and the talks therefore had no official status but, in a clear sign that Brussels was keen to be involved, the commission vice-president, Franco Frattini, attended.
EU ignores constitution vote to launch anti-terror squad
By Justin Stares and Patrick Hennessy
European leaders were accused of "cherry picking" from the moribund European Union constitution last night after agreeing to create a pan-European counter-terrorism force.
At the Brussels European summit, all 25 member states agreed to pool assets - police, civil protection and military - and place them at the disposal of Javier Solana, the EU's foreign minister-in-waiting.
Such a move had been planned in the constitution which was rejected by voters in France and Holland last year. The constitution has been left on the shelf although Europe's leaders want it up and running again by 2008. Minutes of the summit show that the kernel of the counter-terrorism force, the "crisis steering group", will be operational in a fortnight.
The EU presidency, currently held by Austria, has drawn up a "manual" of forces and assets which can be called on following an attack in any country.
Last night, Eurosceptics reacted with outrage. Chris Heaton-Harris, the Tory Euro-MP, said: "This is another example of the Soviet-style regime which rides roughshod over democratic votes in France and the Netherlands.
In both countries voters said No to the constitution and, specifically, No to a continent-wide anti-terror force.
This is meant to be a time for reflection - but instead the EU is cherry picking from the constitution.
" Defending the agreement, Jesus Carmona, the spokesman on counter-terrorism for Europe's council of ministers, said the force would not constitute standing troops but "officers" from a pool, who could be called on when necessary.
It would operate in another member state only at the request of the government. The size of the force had not been defined, he said.
The latest, EU-wide agreement follows preparatory talks between the six largest nations - the G6, which includes Britain.
The G6 is not an EU institution and the talks therefore had no official status but, in a clear sign that Brussels was keen to be involved, the commission vice-president, Franco Frattini, attended.
posted by erc @ 10:10 pm
<< Home