looks like farage called it for what it was, and lying clegg was just a liar

EU army moves a step closer as 23 countries sign up to 'historic' pledge to pool resources despite warnings it could undermine Nato

An EU army moved a major step closer today as 23 member states signed up to an historic pledge to join forces despite warnings it could undermine Nato.

Britain - which is leaving the EU anyway - and Denmark have refused to take part on defence grounds.

Poland, currently home to Nato forces guarding Europe's eastern frontier against Russian aggression, signed up at the last moment to 'permanent structured co-operation', or Pesco.

Poland demanded the new organisation not be 'competitive' with Nato before signing up to the plan. The agreement is set to be finalised at next month's meeting of EU leaders.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini (pictured today at the Foreign Affairs Council) described it as a 'historic moment in European defence' as 23 EU nations signed up to joint defence

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini described it as a 'historic moment in European defence', and added that '23 member states engaging both on capabilities and on operational steps is something big'.

Those who did not sign up can join later. Ireland, Portugal and Malta have also not signed up.

Ms Mogherini said countries have already submitted more than 50 joint projects in the fields of defence capabilities and military operations.

Britain can take part in some if they are of benefit to the entire EU.

Ms Mogherini said Pesco, backed by the EU defence fund, 'will enable member states to use the economy of scale of Europe and in this manner to fulfil the gap of output that we have'.

Their signatures are a sign of political will but the programme will only enter force once it has been legally endorsed, probably in December.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel lauded the agreement as 'a great step towards self-sufficiency and strengthening the European Union's security and defence policy - really a milestone in European development'.

Under the co-operation, member countries will submit an action plan outlining their defence aims.

Ukip leader Henry Bolton said: 'The military intentions of Jean-Claude Juncker are clear: centralised authority and political control over the armed forces and defence expenditure of EU member states. Under no circumstances must the UK to enter such a scheme.

'The UK must preserve its own, full spectrum and sovereign military capabilities free from external control.

'Whilst we will cooperate with and support our friends and allies to ensure collective security, we must protect the integrity of the NATO alliance and our own ability to defend ourselves.'

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended today's meeting of EU foreign ministers

Ms Mogherini, EU military chiefs and the European Defence Agency will then evaluate whether the plans are being respected.

Those not living up to their commitments could be kicked out of the group.

EU officials insist this is not just bureaucratic co-operation, but real investment that will help develop Europe's defence industry and spur research and development in military capabilities that the bloc needs most.

Ms Mogherini said the move would complement Nato's security aims.

The EU, she said, has tools to fight hybrid warfare - the use of conventional weapons mixed with things such as propaganda and cyber-attacks - that the military alliance does not have at its disposal.

Poland, currently home to Nato forces (pictured) guarding Europe's eastern frontier against Russian aggression, signed up at the last moment to 'permanent structured co-operation'

The EU can also bring its political and financial weight to bear on security challenges, such as the use of development aid in Africa, where Nato has no real foothold.

Under Pesco, EU countries will commit to increase military spending, but not to specifically adhere to Nato's bottom line of moving towards 2 per cent of gross domestic product for defence budgets by 2020.

By working together on joint projects, nations will be able to use their combined spending weight to purchase much-needed capabilities like air transport or drones.

'The real problem is not how much we spend, it is the fact that we spend in a fragmented manner,' Ms Mogherini said.

Mr Gabriel said working together is 'more economical than if everyone does the same. I think that European co-operation on defence questions will rather contribute to saving money - we have about 50 per cent of the United States' defence spending in Europe, but only 15 per cent of the efficiency.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5078157/EU-army-moves-step-closer-23-nations-sign-pact.html

Is that the same Daily Mail that supported the Nazi black shirts in the 1930's, and advocating a european army?

Nigel Farage is a dick...

is the eu forming its own EU army??

yes

did farage predict it would happen??

yes

nuff said

Angry Andy wrote: Is that the same Daily Mail that supported the Nazi black shirts in the 1930's, and advocating a european army?

Er, that was more than 80 years ago.......

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Angry Andy wrote: Is that the same Daily Mail that supported the Nazi black shirts in the 1930's, and advocating a european army?

Er, that was more than 80 years ago.......

the narrative must be advanced , never mind inconsequential things like facts and history, the liberal narrative is all that matters

haven't you read 1984??

smelly-bandit wrote:

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Er, that was more than 80 years ago.......

the narrative must be advanced , never mind inconsequential things like facts and history, the liberal narrative is all that matters

haven't you read 1984??

Yes.

I was 45 years old in 1984.

Whatever was supposed to happen didn't happen, and if it did I didn't notice it.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

smelly-bandit wrote:

the narrative must be advanced , never mind inconsequential things like facts and history, the liberal narrative is all that matters

haven't you read 1984??

Yes.

I was 45 years old in 1984.

Whatever was supposed to happen didn't happen, and if it did I didn't notice it.

Think he was off by a few decades.

The book should have been called 2017

RE the OP... so much for the EU just being about a simple trade organisation... as the pro EU liars have been telling us for 40 years...!?

@ title:
Remind me again which party got into bed with 'liar' Clegg to form a very cosy alliance? 

Jules wrote:@ title:
Remind me again which party got into bed with 'liar' Clegg to form a very cosy alliance? 

Not UKIP

Tommy Monk wrote:RE the OP... so much for the EU just being about a simple trade organisation... as the pro EU liars have been telling us for 40 years...!?

my dad said just recently

''those who want to remain keep saying that brexiteers voted leave based on lies, well that's ok by me cos i voted in based on a lie in the first place''

+1