European Parliament proposes to place Eurocorps as a standing force under EU command

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) held 2 days of debates in Brussels. Foreign policy and defence was the first item that was debated this week.

Brussels - On Wednesday 4th June the session opened at 15:00 with a joint debate on foreign policy, security and defence with High Representative for Foreign Affairs Javier Solana.

On Thursday 5th June the Members of the European Parliament approved by 500 votes to 106 and 36 abstentions, a text including the following excerpts:

• “The European Parliament proposes to place Eurocorps as a standing force under EU command and invites all Member States to contribute to it”

• The European Parliament welcomes the signature of the Lisbon Treaty, which will introduce major innovations in the field of ESDP, in particular by strengthening the office of High Representative, establishing a European External Action Service and introducing an article on mutual defence assistance, a solidarity clause, permanent structured cooperation in the field of defence and an extension of the "Petersberg tasks"; hopes that the ratification process will be completed successfully and in a timely fashion in all Member States; congratulates those Member States that have already ratified the Lisbon Treaty; points out that Parliament will fulfil its responsibilities under the current Treaty and will closely monitor the implementation of any new innovations.

• The European Parliament asks the Member States concerned to investigate the possibilities and possible impact of bringing under permanent structured cooperation, as envisaged in the Lisbon Treaty, existing multinational forces such as Eurocorps, Eurofor, Euromarfor, the European Gendarmerie Force, the Spanish-Italian amphibious force, the European Air Group, the European Air Coordination cell in Eindhoven, the Athens Multinational Sealift Coordination Centre and all relevant forces and structures for ESDP operations.”

Last 5th May, Spanish Lieutenant General Pedro Pitarch, the Eurocorps Commander, addressed for the first time the European Parliamentarians in the European Parliament in Brussels. The speech of General Pitarch was delivered upon request of German Parliamentarian Karl Von Wogau, the President of the Subcommission for Security and Defence, who visited Headquarters Eurocorps in Strasbourg last 16th January. The full version of General Pitarch's speech (in English and Spanish) in the European Parliament and more information is available on www.eurocorps.org.

More information on www.europarl.europa.eu.

 

 

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