Denmark excluded from EU defence plans
Denmark excluded from EU defence plansDenmark has been excluded from the European Union's military plans because of its opt-out from EU's defence cooperation, national radio news channel DR reported Friday. Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller told the parliament's foreign affairs' committee that EU's chief of foreign policy Javier Solana had made it clear that Denmark could not participate in the union's new so-called civilian-military cell within the union's military projects. Solana said Danish officers could not continue to participate in the planning cell as they have since 2000, since the opt-out bars them from participating in possible military operations. The EU-sceptic Danish People's Party and the Red and Green Alliance said they were surprised by the decision. The Radical Liberal Party, however, said the decision showed the 'absurdity of the defence opt-out.'
Is Denmark being punished for their cooperation with the Americans in Iraq, and thus "disloyalty" to the EU?
Troops will remain in Iraq, MPs decide
A broad majority in parliament agreed last week to give the military an extended mandate in Iraq until February 1 2006. The parliament also decided to add DKK 100 million to reconstruction in the country in addition to the 150 million already granted in this year's budget. The decision was made after the Liberal-Conservative coalition government secured the support of the Danish People's Party, the Social Democrats, and the Radical Liberal Party, without the two latter insisting on withdrawal in 2006. National radio news channel DR said, however, that the two opposition parties had pushed through their demand that more emphasis be placed on education and training of Iraqi police and military. Conservative Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller said he was pleased with the deal.
posted by Unknown @ 3:53 PM
7 Comments:
Re: "Denmark has been excluded from the European Union's military plans because of its opt-out from EU's defence cooperation.."
What military plans? Whenever they are in trouble their plan is to call for the U.S.
Irene: It's hard to have lots of balls when feminists try to castrate you all the time. Sorry, just couldn't help it ;-).....
Women with balls? No wonder Europeans go extinct.......
I suspect that while the EU won't let Denmark play in defense games, they remain part of the collective defense initiatives associated with NATO. The US has never abandoned a true friend . . . well, besides Taiwan. Oh well.
Mustang
I've noticed that feisty Queen had the guts to say what no US politico dares say. I mentioned it on my blog at the time.
Brava!
What EU defense? A military costs money and Europe has already decided that it has better things to spend it's money on.
Europe has relied on America's military ever since the start of the cold war, and Europe continues to do so.
What I can't figure out is why some Europeans try to undermine our efforts overseas. Anything that Europeans do to weaken America only weakens the West's ability to defend it's self.
Europe is a sitting duck without America's military.
Which also reminds me wasn't one the reasons the Roman Empire fell is because they relied too much on non-Roman soldiers? I guess the Romans decided that they had better things to spend their money on then an effective military.
Will anyone ever learn from history?
It is a danish decision to stay out of the military cooperation. After the no to Maastricht in 1992, Denmark voted again but about a reduced treaty, where Denmark doesn't participate in 4 areas. That is military, the €, EU citizenship and law and justice cooperation.
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