Farage: Let’s not surrender to Brussels army

NIGEL Farage warns the Government would be “turning its back” on voters if it signs Britain up to Brussels’ bid to create an EU army.

The former Ukip leader said a new defence cooperation agreement is to be discussed in the Belgian capital on Monday by ministers from the European Union’s 28 states.

He fears the UK is poised to sign up as part of the Permanent Structured Cooperation process – known as Pesco – even though we will leave the EU in 2019.

Supporters of Pesco, including the UK, say the aim is to deepen defence cooperation among member “who are capable and willing”.

Participants will make “binding commitments” jointly to develop defence capabilities and make them available for EU military operations.

But opponents say it signals the development of a separate EU military organisation that would undermine Nato. Brussels denies the claim.

Pesco will have its own HQ and plans for EU military missions abroad, and comes alongside plans for a centralised European Defence Fund designed to develop an EU-wide defence industry. The EU’s foreign states affairs chief Federica Mogherini has said Pesco could be ready to take effect in January.

David Banks, of the group Veterans for Britain, told Mr Farage’s LBC radio show that Britain should not be part of the agreement.

But he feared the Government’s past record of going along with EU defence initiatives suggested it would end up joining and had yet to rule out doing so.

MEP Mr Farage said it showed that he was right to warn over many years of Brussels’ much-vaunted “European Defence Union” ambitions. “It means a European army, navy and air force. They’re pushing full-steam ahead.”

He added: “Even if you think a European army is a good idea, we voted Brexit.

“Surely a government considering signing up to this would be turning its back on the electorate.”

A Government spokesman confirmed that Pesco is on the agenda for Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting, adding: “We welcome the progress towards the launch of Pesco and are engaging with its development where appropriate.”