Hansard, 3 February 2009:
Baroness Knight of Collingtree: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British troops are currently serving with the European Rapid Reaction Force."
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: ".. Turning to the Question, the Answer is none, because there is no European rapid reaction force... The simple fact of the matter is that we have only one set of forces. We in Britain decide how to deploy them. There is no permanent standing army waiting for Europe to instruct it, and there is no European rapid reaction force... I repeat what I said earlier: there is no European army, there is no permanent standing army".
As Denis Cooper points out, apart from this one, of course.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Clarification
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4 comments:
lies lies damned lies
HNL: No, it can't be - it was said by a Noble member of our government, who are of course 'honourable' people who would never lie to us - much!
And of course, as you would expect, the "Euro Corps" web site is replete with tales of their stirring derring-do and military prowess.
Such as, flag ceremonies, more flag ceremonies, and - erm - other flag ceremonies.
God help this lot if they ever meet a real army.
There is no EU Rapid Response we are told, so where did the initials ERRF come from? The EU Battlegroup Concept (EUBGC) subsequently has been complemented by the Maritime Rapid Response Concept (MarRRC) and the Air Rapid Response Concept (AirRRC) (Ref.H). Together these three subordinate concepts have generated a range of requirements and principles that have informed this review of the EU Military Rapid Response Concept (MRRC). The requirement for a Land Rapid Response Concept has yet to be defined. (Taken from the Council of the European Union subject EU Military Rapid Response Concept. Dated 23rd January 2009. Who pays for these secondments I wonder?
There may be no EU STANDING Army but there are manyEU directives and instructions that refer/apply to this no STANDING army. There may be no EU STANDING Navy but the EU Navy has already set sail and is on duty re Somalia for twelve months. Will the dear Lady Taylor deny THAT too?
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