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Dawn of EU Pentagon: Brussels to build defence agency run by politicians playing soldiers
Dawn of EU Pentagon: Brussels to build defence agency run by politicians playing soldiers
Dawn of EU Pentagon: Brussels to build defence agency run by politicians playing soldiers
AN OBSCURE defence agency could play a key role in greater military cooperation as the European Union pushes on with plans for an EU army.
Although virtually unknown, the European Defence Agency could be a vital element if the EU hopes to forge tighter defence links in the future.
Currently, the organisation has a relatively tiny budget, staff of just 130 people, and is run by diplomats not military chiefs.
But there have been suggestions the EDA could become the European equivalent of the Pentagon – the headquarters of the United States Department of Defence.
While EU officials raised its military budget from £26.2 to £26.6 million on Tuesday, the sum pales in comparison to the Pentagon’s £464.5 million.
But the increase is the first for the agency since 2010, and comes as the EU pushes forward with other efforts to ramp up military spending – including establishing an EU defence fund.
