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Proceeding contribution from Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UK Independence Party) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 6 May 2008. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on European Union (Amendment) Bill.


European Union (Amendment) Bill

I have. The point that the noble Lord may have missed, because he may not have studied this document with the attention which it deserves, is that the United States of America is referred to in it as ““third parties””. I merely ask what has happened to the document, what has happened to our procurement and defence industries since August 2000, and what is the present state of play with the United States of America and our European friends? My second question to the Minister is even simpler: does he agree with the recent statement of the Polish Defence Minister, Mr Bogdan Klich, who has said: "““We are in favour of a much stronger role for European defence, and that would include a military headquarters””?" Do Her Majesty's Government support the independent military command structure for the European army? If, as I suspect, they do, where will the money come from? Perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, with his vast experience in this field, can enlighten us. Where will the money for this European army come from, particularly for the lift and intelligence which will be necessary and for which, at the moment, the European Union presumes to depend on the United States of America?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
701 c538 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Data protection European Union EU common foreign and security policy EU budget NATO EU defence policy Qualified majority voting
Legislation
European Union (Amendment) Bill 2007-08
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk