It’s time we committed to EU defence policy – MEP

CONCERNS about Putin’s Russia, and mass migration to Europe, are key reasons why Ireland must commit to a common EU defence policy, Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has said.

Mr Hayes also said a referendum would be needed for the country to join a common defence union.

The current level of spending on defence in Ireland – at 0.3% of the GDP, according to the World Bank – is the lowest in the EU.

But Mr Hayes said pay, conditions and resources for Ireland’s military personnel need to be urgently addressed, along with the country’s commitment to collaborative defence across member states.

He stressed that greater cooperation – as outlined in recent months in PESCO, the EU body aiming to boost military cooperation, to which Ireland recently signed up – would not compromise our neutrality.

But in an interview in the latest edition of Signal, a magazine for our Defence Forces, he insisted that committing to a common EU defence policy represented the best way forward to ensure our security.

‘The threats of unmanaged migration, a disorderly Brexit or the looming challenge of a trade war with the US make it impossible to predict the future security landscape,’ he said.

‘When these geo-political threats are factored into the debate, while understanding the day-to-day threats of countering terrorism, cyber-security or human trafficking, we have to be aware that paying for security and defence does not come cheap, and requires a political commitment.

‘New threats and new situations demand a policy re-examined for Europe and for Ireland, too.

‘We need to be involved in this debate because across the EU, other governments and citizens are genuinely worried about Putin’s Russia, Isis and how mass migration could potentially undermine European security.’

He added: ‘While the concern varies from member state to member state and according to political orientation, there is no denying that security and defence are as important as ever to Europeans.’

Mr Hayes also said he would like to see the establishment of a central intelligence unit, and more flexibility in how our Defence Forces can be deployed internationally in times of crisis or natural disaster.