UKIP

Clegg’s ‘dangerous fantasy’ of an EU army becomes frightening reality after new EU push for military integration

Today the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a detailed report by Urmas Paet calling for a far greater level of EU military integration. Within the proposals are calls for EU taxation to ‘foster defence cooperation’, calls for members to make ‘binding defence commitments’ to an EU army and also for the EU to ‘unleash the full potential’ of the Lisbon treaty in terms of defence integration.

Mike Hookem MEP UKIP’s Defence Spokesman commented: “Clegg’s labelling of an EU army as a ‘dangerous fantasy’ is now as discredited as his party. By voting to ‘unleash the full potential’ of an EU army it has become a frightening reality and one that will have a direct cost to the UK taxpayer.”

“The calls for the immediate acceleration of this level of integration are a clear threat to our sovereignty and ability to control our own armed forces. There is every chance this could be forced through before we leave the EU and that subversion of the British people’s will is disgraceful.”

EU Military could end up costing British tax payers millions

An EU military could end up costing British tax payers millions of pounds despite the historic vote to leave the EU, a senior UKIP MEP has warned.

Reports being voted on next week in the European Parliament demand up to half a billion pounds per year for one area of the EU Defence Union alone, with €90 million for 'preparatory action on EU defence research' starting in 2017.

The timeline of progress in the development of the EU Military, which British officials have long denied would happen despite evidence to the contrary, would mean the UK could not only contribute financially but could be legally drawn into it as the government will not have tabled a vote on Brexit as demanded by the high court let alone invoked Article 50 by the time the EU strategy kicks into action.

"The EU sees a military structure as necessary, particularly as it continues its dangerous and unnecessary provocation of Russia," warned UKIP Defence spokesman Mike Hookem MEP.

"These plans include reform of the EU battlegroups concept, aiming at the establishment of permanent units which would be independent of any lead nation and subject to systematic joint training and an EU-wide system for the coordination of the rapid movement of defence forces' personnel, equipment and supplies."

Call for an inquiry into HS2 ‘snoopers’

UKIP’s Transport spokesman has called for an urgent investigation into the working methods of HS2 rail bosses after they were accused of snooping into the private lives of their opponents.

A report in a national newspaper claims the HS2 team has been accessing ‘personal data’ including details of people’s sexual orientation, trade union affiliation, criminal records and information about their physical and mental health. As part of the company’s Privacy Notice, the Sunday Express said HS2 could collect this information on their own staff and suppliers – as well as those claiming compensation or objecting to the scheme. 

UKIP’s Jill Seymour MEP said: “If these reports are true, serious questions need to be asked about the morals and the motives of the HS2 organisation.

“The only reason they could possibly be trying to get hold of this information is to potentially smear the reputations of those who oppose to their plans.

MEPs to vote on controversial report handing military power to Brussels

MEPs are set to vote on a controversial report to pass swathes of power to an EU military structure which would see Brussels interfering militarily in political parties and UK policing.

The report, which is being debated in Strasbourg next week, aims to give more powers to the military components of the Common Security and Defence Policy including powers to rival NATO with a 'mutual defence clause' and a permanent Headquarters with permanent military and civilian staff. It also means UK tax payers will have to fork out millions for an EU Defence Research project and an EU defence minister despite the British public voting to leave the EU.

UKIP Defence Spokesman Mike Hookem MEP said the report "has huge implications for the sovereignty of the UK and its ability to control its own military. What we have in black and white isn't the 'dangerous fantasy' that Nick Clegg tried to trick voters with in 2014 but the plans for an EU military and security structure to firmly push NATO out of the way," he said.