Why Are The Arms Makers Formulating EU Policy?

Ferrero-Waldner also stated the need to press on with the European Defence Agency (EDA). Its title might sound innocuous, but the EDA is a central component in the development of a common European foreign and defence policy. The impetus for common policy in this area has been growing since the early 1990s. It began to be formulated in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty and appears within the proposed EU constitution so roundly rejected by the French and Dutch. The document urges member states "to progressively improve their military capabilities." It is lying dormant but could be resurrected at any time. However, much of the policy laid down in the proposed constitution is going on apace regardless of its rejection by ordinary people. The EDA is key to this. It first met in September 2004 and exists to support member states in their effort to "improve European defence capabilities." What this means in plain English is more arms sales, more trade in weapons and research into more effective killing machines. But what is fuelling this drive to spend taxpayers' money on rearming Europe? Weapons are big business. Basically, the EDA is an arms agency. Defence manufacturers are scrambling to get a slice of the military budget. See also http://www.spectrezine.org/europe/Hudson.htm http://www.spectrezine.org/europe/street.htm

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