16.12.2011 r.
Debate on the financial crisis and defence
As MEPs held a debate on the impact that public spending cuts prompted by the financial crisis are having on the defence sector on 13 December 2011, Lady Ashton said that a series of institutional reforms had since been introduced to help the external action service deal with crises.
She highlighted the importance of the EU's relationship with Nato, citing "an unprecedented level of co-operation" on defence matters in recent months.
Polish centre-right MEP Krzysztof Lisek, the author of a recent report from the Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, praised the high representative's "deep understanding" of defence policy.
But his report warns that cuts to defence expenditure in member states is hampering the EU's ability to meet its "responsibilities in peace keeping, conflict prevention and the strengthening of international security".
Co-ordination between member states is needed, the committee asserts, to ensure that the "complete loss of certain military capabilities in Europe" does not ensue.
British Conservative MEP Geoffrey Van Orden said the report had come to the wrong conclusions.
"The answer, to everyone in this chamber, is more Europe," he said, arguing that what was needed instead was "more capability".
He said EU institutions needed to "stop meddling in defence"; and that the common security and defence policy is a "dangerous, wasteful distraction", proven to be "irrelevant" by events in Libya.
Useful links:
Democracy Live's guide to how the plenary sessions work.
A disclaimer on the use of simultaneous interpretations, on the European Parliament's website.
