Members of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) hold a debriefing of the SEDE delegation to Northwood, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (EFD, UK), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Petru Constantin LUHAN (EPP, RO) and Catherine SOULLIE (EPP, FR).

Brussels

meeting

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

common security and defence policy (T)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

CAMPBELL BANNERMAN, David (ECR, UK)

LUHAN, Petru Constantin (EPP, RO)

SOULLIE, Catherine (FR)

SEDE delegation to Northwood (Operation Atalanta HQ and UK/NL Battle group): extracts from the debriefing

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/13995215/ebs70711Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (French), Catherine SOULLIE (EPP, FR), I saw that everyone got along and given that this is a navy operation that is extremely important .I just reconfirm the idea: its very important to continue with operation Atlanta, it plays a very important role because it helps the world food program and its vessels, even if theses vessels couldn't do their jobs because there were shots fired, they also ensured that there is a safe transit of marine vessels in the area. From 2010 on we must continue the operation and have to find budgets.

SOUNDBITE (French), Catherine SOULLIE (EPP, FR), It is very important to tackle the root causes behind this there needs to be political stability in the region and most specifically in Somalia. That's the first thing I wanted to say. I try to go very quickly here. When it comes to the battle groups, it was an extremely interesting situation. Theses battle groups have never been deployed, we regretted this and the command as well, theses battle groups could support civil missions but there unfortunately we don't have the necessary know how and professionalism.

SOUNDBITE (English), David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (EFDD, UK), I did ask a question: would a single operational command actually make a difference to the effectiveness on the issue on controlling pirates of Somalia and the NATO commander did actually say yes, it would help to have a single command and he did say that there have been problems with EU not providing satellite information witch have hampered the Nato Mission to some extend. 

SOUNDBITE (English), David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (EFDD, UK), They do get on very well, I would not say there is a major issue between the two but I do think -you know seriously- you are getting the same nations, 21 out of 27 I believe there are and there is a huge issue of duplication and overlap witch I think needs to be addressed, because at the end of the day this is a very important mission in the sense of: this is one of the key choke points in the world, this report touches on in terms of shipping being affected by piracy and the impact on world oil prices, one ship being pirated actually lead to an increase in oil prices around the world by 1,4% as the report taught on. 

SOUNDBITE (English), David CAMPBELL BANNERMAN (EFDD, UK), So the implications to this are very, very serious for all of us. So I think this issue of working together, I do query if it might be better to do it through Nato as the most established force, because what I observed is lot of overlap in military. Its the same ships often, that could be one day a Nato and the next day a EU Nato force and I think that is a serious issue and should be debated further.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), My understanding has been that EUNAVOR for the ATALANTA operation has one big advantage over NATO, I think even NATO would accept this. It enables coordination with the non alliance movement type navies in the Indian Ocean, particularly from India and from China and other places who would not fly under or cooperate with any kind of Nato flag I am afraid. One great value added that the EU brings to Mission on the Horn of Africa is the fact that its more powerful to other countries and you just cant get around them I am afraid.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petru Constantin LUHAN (EPP, RO), The speech by Rasmussen, the Secretary General - it is not yet public - is a rather hard-line one, referred to Afghanistan, NATO strategic concept, NATO transformation. The main elements: First after nine years of deployment in Afghanistan he referred to the scepticism of media and public about the chance to win the fight and he stated that if we-witch means NATO -would walk away from Afghanistan Taliban would be back and AL KAIDA as well, Pakistan would be destabilised, Terrorists would have access to Pakistani nuclear weapons and the alliance could be exposed to massive nuclear terrorist attacks. In few words we must stay as long as it takes to finish the job.