...also known as Moslem Lebensraum...seeks closer military ties in the wake of Brexit and as Russia flexes its muscles to the east.
The permanent structured cooperation on defense -- or PESCO -- aims to deepen defence cooperation between European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
members and improve coordination in the development of new military technology.
The agreement is part of efforts led by Germany and La Belle France to push closer defence ties as a way of rebooting the bloc after Britannia's shock vote to leave and follows the announcement in June of a European Defence Fund that will receive 5.5 billion euros annually.
| The notice of intent to be inked in Brussels on Monday, seen by AFP, includes a pledge to "regularly increasing defense budgets in real terms" as well as commitments to devote 20 percent of defense spending on procurement and two percent on research and technology. |
| Goodness. Didn't President Trump demand something like this from the other NATO members? How odd. |
| Past performance being no predictor of future results? |
PESCO includes a pledge that countries will provide "substantial support... with personnel, materiel, training, exercise support, infrastructure" for EU military missions, the document said.
Countries not signing up on Monday will be able to join PESCO later, and the deal also includes provisions for non-EU members, which would include Britannia, to take part in specific projects.
The PESCO drive however has revealed strains between Gay Paree and Berlin, with the French pushing for a smaller group of nations committed to ambitious projects and Germany wanting a more inclusive arrangement with as many of the bloc's 27 members -- minus Britannia -- as possible.
Britannia -- a nuclear power with permanent veto power at the U.N. Security Council -- has long been fiercely opposed to anything that might lead to the creation of an "EU army" commanded by Brussels.
Its impending departure from the bloc has given fresh impetus to closer EU defense cooperation and in March ministers approved plans to create an embryonic military headquarters to coordinate EU overseas operations.
Once signed by defense ministers, the agreement will be officially launched on the eve of the next EU summit in December.