EU planning to 'own and operate’ spy drones and air force
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
EU planning to 'own and operate’ spy drones and air force
EU planning to 'own and operate’ spy drones and an air force
The European Union is planning to “own and operate” spy drones, surveillance satellites and aircraft as part of a new intelligence and security agency under the control of Baroness Ashton. The controversial proposals are a major move towards creating an independent EU military body with its own equipment and operations, and will be strongly opposed by Britain.
Officials told the Daily Telegraph that the European Commission and Lady Ashton’s European External Action Service want to create military command and communication systems to be used by the EU for internal security and defence purposes. Under the proposals, purchasing plans will be drawn up by autumn. The use of the new spy drones and satellites for “internal and external security policies”, which will include police intelligence, the internet, protection of external borders and maritime surveillance, will raise concerns that the EU is creating its own version of the US National Security Agency.
Senior European officials regard the plan as an urgent response to the recent scandal over American and British communications surveillance by creating EU’s own security and spying agency. “The Edward Snowden scandal shows us that Europe needs its own autonomous security capabilities, this proposal is one step further towards European defence integration,” said a senior EU official.
The proposal said “the commission will work with the EEAS on a joint assessment of dual-use capability needs for EU security and defence policies”.
It continued: “On the basis of this assessment, it will come up with a proposal for which capability needs, if any, could best be fulfilled by assets directly purchased, owned and operated by the Union.” A commission official confirmed the proposal. "Looking at the current gaps, possibilities could be from surveillance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems to airlift and command and communication facilities," said the official.
There is a already an intense behind-the-scenes battle pitting London against the rest over plans to create an EU military operations headquarters in Brussels. Lady Ashton, the European foreign minister, the commission and France – backed by Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland – all support the plans. Both sets of proposals are likely to come to a head at an EU summit fight in December.
“We would not support any activity that would mean the Commission owning or controlling specific defence research assets or capabilities,” said a British government spokesman. Britain has a veto but the group of countries have threatened to use a legal mechanism, created by the Lisbon Treaty, to bypass the British and create a major rift in Nato.
Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, Conservative European defence and security spokesman, accused the commission of being “obsessed” with promoting the “EU’s military ambitions”. “It would be alarming if the EU – opaque, unaccountable, bureaucratic and desperately trying to turn itself into a federal state – were to try and create an intelligence gathering capability of its own. This is something that we need to stop in its tracks before it is too late,” he said.
Nigel Farage MEP, the leader of Ukip, described the plans for EU spy drones and satellites as “a deeply sinister development”. “These are very scary people, and these revelations should give any lover of liberty pause for thought over the ambitions of the EU elite.”
The Open Europe think tank has warned that the EU “has absolutely no democratic mandate for actively controlling and operating military and security capabilities”. “The fact is European countries have different views on defence and this is best served by intergovernmental cooperation, not by European Commission attempts at nation-building,” said Pawel Swidlicki, a research analyst at Open Europe.
The spy drones and secure command systems would be linked to a £3.5 billion spy satellite project known as Copernicus which will be used to provide “imaging capabilities to support Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations”. Currently Copernicus is due to be operated by the European Space Agency. It is part of the Sentinel system of satellites, which is costing British taxpayers £434 million. Previously known as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security project, which is due to become operational next year.
The European Union is planning to “own and operate” spy drones, surveillance satellites and aircraft as part of a new intelligence and security agency under the control of Baroness Ashton. The controversial proposals are a major move towards creating an independent EU military body with its own equipment and operations, and will be strongly opposed by Britain.
Officials told the Daily Telegraph that the European Commission and Lady Ashton’s European External Action Service want to create military command and communication systems to be used by the EU for internal security and defence purposes. Under the proposals, purchasing plans will be drawn up by autumn. The use of the new spy drones and satellites for “internal and external security policies”, which will include police intelligence, the internet, protection of external borders and maritime surveillance, will raise concerns that the EU is creating its own version of the US National Security Agency.
Senior European officials regard the plan as an urgent response to the recent scandal over American and British communications surveillance by creating EU’s own security and spying agency. “The Edward Snowden scandal shows us that Europe needs its own autonomous security capabilities, this proposal is one step further towards European defence integration,” said a senior EU official.
The proposal said “the commission will work with the EEAS on a joint assessment of dual-use capability needs for EU security and defence policies”.
It continued: “On the basis of this assessment, it will come up with a proposal for which capability needs, if any, could best be fulfilled by assets directly purchased, owned and operated by the Union.” A commission official confirmed the proposal. "Looking at the current gaps, possibilities could be from surveillance Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems to airlift and command and communication facilities," said the official.
There is a already an intense behind-the-scenes battle pitting London against the rest over plans to create an EU military operations headquarters in Brussels. Lady Ashton, the European foreign minister, the commission and France – backed by Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland – all support the plans. Both sets of proposals are likely to come to a head at an EU summit fight in December.
“We would not support any activity that would mean the Commission owning or controlling specific defence research assets or capabilities,” said a British government spokesman. Britain has a veto but the group of countries have threatened to use a legal mechanism, created by the Lisbon Treaty, to bypass the British and create a major rift in Nato.
Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, Conservative European defence and security spokesman, accused the commission of being “obsessed” with promoting the “EU’s military ambitions”. “It would be alarming if the EU – opaque, unaccountable, bureaucratic and desperately trying to turn itself into a federal state – were to try and create an intelligence gathering capability of its own. This is something that we need to stop in its tracks before it is too late,” he said.
Nigel Farage MEP, the leader of Ukip, described the plans for EU spy drones and satellites as “a deeply sinister development”. “These are very scary people, and these revelations should give any lover of liberty pause for thought over the ambitions of the EU elite.”
The Open Europe think tank has warned that the EU “has absolutely no democratic mandate for actively controlling and operating military and security capabilities”. “The fact is European countries have different views on defence and this is best served by intergovernmental cooperation, not by European Commission attempts at nation-building,” said Pawel Swidlicki, a research analyst at Open Europe.
The spy drones and secure command systems would be linked to a £3.5 billion spy satellite project known as Copernicus which will be used to provide “imaging capabilities to support Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations”. Currently Copernicus is due to be operated by the European Space Agency. It is part of the Sentinel system of satellites, which is costing British taxpayers £434 million. Previously known as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security project, which is due to become operational next year.
The controversial proposals are a major move towards creating an independent EU military body with its own equipment and operations...
time to reopen Biggin Hill, West Malling, Kenley, Hawkinge and a few other places me thinks ...
I shudder to think of a military at the command of Rumpy Von Pumpy and Barbosa the braindead. RAF relegated to Rations And Freight, all the jobs with bang given to heroic, loyal, continental countries. My Father in law (617 Groundcrew) must be rolling in his grave. How far are we going to let this country degenerate before "reasonable men" come to the fore ? I see our governmental priority at the moment is "exporting Gay Marriage" 
Smudge
Smudge
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Age: 60
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why?
From a distance, it appears that you have created and are feeding a monster that does, err, what?
Is anything- economic, social, political - actually better because of the EU?
Now you are giving it a military?
From a distance, it appears that you have created and are feeding a monster that does, err, what?
Is anything- economic, social, political - actually better because of the EU?
Now you are giving it a military?
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,631
Received 513 Likes
on
273 Posts
Why?
From a distance, it appears that you have created and are feeding a monster that does, err, what?
Is anything- economic, social, political - actually better because of the EU?
Now you are giving it a military?
Point is, not many of us actually voted for any of it.
As for giving it a military...... a very worrying development indeed.
Point is, not many of us actually voted for any of it.
and it seems to do little other than feed itself (but without ever satiating its increasing hunger).
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
EU Airforce.
Would the fluffy lefties ever be able to write an ROE that
ever allowed them to drop a bomb or fire on someone ?
I some how doubt it.
Would the fluffy lefties ever be able to write an ROE that
ever allowed them to drop a bomb or fire on someone ?
I some how doubt it.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Posts: 3,632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@brickhistory
Is anything- economic, social, political - actually better because of the EU?
Whilst the Mountain of pish from the EU grows, it's nothing but an inconvenience to what went on before, so YES, it's worth it.
it's nothing but an inconvenience to what went on before, so YES, it's worth it.
It only sort of works while everybody has enough money to support the Euro and the Bankrupt countries (and of course feed all the gravy trains
)Time will tell
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Age: 60
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whilst the Mountain of pish from the EU grows, it's nothing but an
inconvenience to what went on before, so YES, it's worth it.
inconvenience to what went on before, so YES, it's worth it.
At best, I would've thought NATO as more likely along with the Cold War itself.
But if the eroding of national soveriegnty, as I see it, is a good thing for you, have at it.
But why does the EU need its own military and police forces separate from those of the member nations?
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Posts: 3,632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As usual, you totally miss the point, deliberately or not, in the ongoing "them and us" argument. Have it your own way because I don't really care what you either think or believe.
We have the ghosts of generations lost both in WW1 and WW2 with us, still.
As the MAN said
astalavista, baby
We have the ghosts of generations lost both in WW1 and WW2 with us, still.
As the MAN said
astalavista, baby
Last edited by glad rag; 28th Jul 2013 at 15:46.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Age: 60
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have it your own way because I don't really care what you either think or believe.
Your view is that the EU, and I assume its related forebears is what kept Europe from going to pieces again?
And I'm still seeking an explanation why it, the EU, would need its own military and police forces separate from the member states'?
Rather like the EU itself then?
Its a huge undemocratic financial black hole !!
And yes I am aware of history - but I doubt the EU is a long term solution !!
It started out as the EEC(ish) with very laudable aims and has ended up as a huge financial morass !! (with many people feeding off the many gravy trains !)
rgds LR
Aviator Extraordinaire
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
Age: 77
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have the ghosts of generations lost both in WW1 and WW2 with us, still.
Personally I'm still waiting for a single EU Air Traffic Control System. If the EU cannot figure out how to get that done, I don't see any hope for a unified EU military.
But hey, if the EU manages to form a EU military, just think how much taxes will go up to pay for it, so you've that working for you.
Last edited by con-pilot; 28th Jul 2013 at 17:20.