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ISSUE 2148 Thursday 12 April 2001

Blair 'misled public over EU reaction force'

By Sarah Womack, Political Correspondent

THE Tories accused Tony Blair of deception last night after the European Union's newly-appointed top general said the Anglo-French inspired European Rapid Reaction Force would be independent of Nato.

Gen Gustav Hagglund of Finland, whose controversial appointment to chair the EU's permanent Military Committee was approved on Monday, said: "We are not talking about a subsidiary of Nato. This is an independent body. We are talking about co-operation with Nato." His comments sparked a row at Westminster, with the Conservatives saying Gen Hagglund - unlike Mr Blair - had spoken the truth about the "Euro Army".

Iain Duncan Smith, the shadow defence secretary, said: "Gen Hagglund's comments prove what we have been saying is accurate. Tony Blair has misled the British public and the United States. This force is not locked into Nato, it will compete with Nato and undermine our defence."

Jacques Chirac, the French President, infuriated Mr Blair at the Nice Summit in December by saying the force should have a planning staff separate from Nato.

American defence officials have said that the force could lead to the undermining of the Atlantic alliance. Last November the EU nations pledged about 100,000 troops, 400 combat aircraft and 100 ships as part of a pool from which eventual security and defence missions would be drawn.

The EU hoped to be able to field at least a small force by the end of 2001. EU defence ministers agreed last week that they needed another "pledging conference" this autumn to make up capability shortfalls in the proposed force if they were to meet their target of having it ready for operations by 2003.

Gen Hagglund, who chaired the first meeting of the permanent Military Committee yesterday said the rapid reaction corps was "a question of identity in the same way as the flag and the euro". "At the end of the year we should have a detailed list of forces that are at the moment available for crisis management operations. We will have some initial capabilities at the end of the year to cope with crises that are not so demanding."

Hagglund, who is still chief of staff of the Finnish armed forces, will not be officially released from that post until June 4. At that time, he will take up full-time residence in Brussels for three years. One key issue before the EU is working out how it will co-ordinate with Nato and how, and under what conditions, the EU could use Nato assets such as satellite communications.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001