John Baron MP questions Government on European defence integration

MP highlights falling defence spending

Yesterday in Parliament, John Baron MP was selected to sit on a Committee of MPs scrutinising European policy and its implementation. The Committee was dealing with aspects of common European security and defence issues. At the end of the Committee, John supported the Government’s motion that defence co-operation should be advanced by member states, and not by the EU.

In the Committee, John said,

“Given key members of the EU are referring to the Lisbon Treaty, which clearly talks about a common defence policy, when will we square up and get a definitive answer on who reigns supreme in this area? There are people in power who believe this is the start of a process towards a common foreign and security policy agenda, but that does not ring true with many in this country.”

The Minister for Europe, Rt Hon David Lidington MP, replied that some European nations do favour increased defence and foreign policy integration, but Article 24 of the Lisbon Treaty states that unanimity amongst EU countries is required for such decisions.

Afterwards John said,

“There is no appetite in Britain for a common security and defence policy, and the Government should bear this in mind when deliberating at an EU level. Europe is a collection of sovereign states first and foremost, whether or not they are members of the EU, NATO, or both.”

“It is concerning that defence spending is falling all over Europe, and it is increasingly clear the Americans are pivoting towards the Pacific. Events in Ukraine should remind us of the importance of strong defence, and we should alter our spending priorities accordingly.”