Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-25-Speech-3-131"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-09-25"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20020925.5.3-131"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-09-25-Speech-3-1322
lpv:speaker	lp:The Earl Of Stockton2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, it used to be said that war is too serious a business to be left to generals. I fear that today defence is too serious a business to be left to politicians. It is my fear that in an understandable but misguided wish for the European Union to have its own defence capability, politicians are forging ahead with plans that are at best wishful thinking, and at worst dangerous. If the plan is to mirror the position of the EMU in relationship to the EU, then I foresee that the ESDP is going to inhibit NATO from functioning efficiently and properly. I have read Mr Brok's report, and while there is much in it – especially in the original draft – that I find interesting, I fear its proposals will create more problems than they solve. Let us be honest, Europe's armed forces have a woefully depleted capability. Europe's national governments have no coherence or agreement when it comes to military operations. None of the experience and sophistication that has been so painstakingly and carefully developed by NATO on both the political and operational fronts is apparent in any of these proposals. Without an increase in defence spending that would be unacceptable to our electors, Europe's armed forces cannot mount and maintain any major operation outside the immediate area. Nobody can deny that NATO's record is what we should be seeking to protect, not to undermine. It is time that Prime Minister Blair stopped dallying with other concepts. He should make it clear that Britain and the other European states that are NATO members have a future only within NATO. Defence policy is literally a matter of life and death: the death not of politicians, but of soldiers, sailors and airmen. They cannot be put at risk for the sake for closer European political integration."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (2002-01-30--2004-07-19)3 member; PETI (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Conservative and Unionist Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Stockton (PPE-DE )."1

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