Falklands hero furious as UK defence takes a step closer to EU integration
THE retired general who commanded British forces during the Falklands conflict has condemned the Government for signing up to EU military integration even as we prepare to end Brussels rule in this country.
Major General Julian Thompson, the chairman of Veterans for Britain, has demanded that defence secretary Michael Fallon explains how he will block a power grab by the EU.
He has warned that the Government has managed to do the defence equivalent of signing up to the euro single currency before Britain escapes Brussels rule.
It follows an agreement to integrate large parts of British defence and security during a European Council meeting earlier this month.
The agreement authorised by the Prime Minister and Mr Fallon takes advantage of an unused clause on military integration in the 2009 Lisbon Treaty previously highlighted by the Daily Express in the EU referendum campaign.
According to analysis by Veterans for Britain it means that the UK has opened the door to integrating its intelligence and security services, undermining our key relationship with the Americans.
The agreement also accepted a European Parliament plan which says “the Member States are empowered to build a European Security and Defence Union that should lead in due time to the establishment of the European Armed Forces”.
It also adopts a European Commission plan to incentivise spending on the European Defence Force and not Nato – despite assurances by Mr Fallon that he does not want an integrated EU force at the expense of the Nato alliance.
The UK has also apparently agreed to a demand not to “hold up or frustrate the plans of remaining members” even though this could be an important tool in the Brexit negotiations.
Last night Maj General Thompson demanded that Mr Fallon takes immediate steps to undo the damage.
He said: “There is an urgent need for the Defence Secretary to explain how he proposes to reduce or block UK integration now he has signed us up.
“Defence integration and centralised EU control has already gone too far, we should be amending that rather than deepening our commitment to an EU Commission-run project.”