MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Imagine Falklands and Gibraltar naval facilities under EU control and flag

Britain's naval bases around the world should be put under the control of the European Union, according to a report commissioned by the Brussels Parliament and which was leaked to the British press this week.

The study states that UK military facilities in the Falkland Islands (MPA), Gibraltar and Cyprus should become part of an EU 'forward presence' spanning the globe, to help safeguard Europe's trade routes in an uncertain future.

The proposals would also see Europe's other major naval power, France, forced to put its military bases in Africa and South America under the control of Brussels as part of a process of “Europeanization”.

The latest example of the ambitious European defense agenda being pursued within the EU goes so far as to suggest that two new giant aircraft carriers being built for the Royal Navy should become an EU 'capability'.

The idea of the EU flag flying over Falklands, Gibraltar and Cyprus drew a horrified response from opposition critics in the UK, and a firm rebuttal from the Ministry of Defense which insisted British facilities would remain under British control.

The study was commissioned by the European Parliament's security and defense committee, as part of inquiries into how the EU should respond to emerging military powers in Asia.

It concludes that: 'The EU Member States’ military installations - mainly French and British - would provide a formidable asset for the geographical and functional expansion of EU Grand Strategy.'

As the world power balance becomes more complex and uncertain, the report adds, 'there is a growing and compelling need for Europeans to take responsibility for the Sea Lines of Communication that link them to the farthest corners of the world, particularly those most vital to European trade and security.'

Sea lanes can only be secured with a costly network of forward bases, the study argues, and the answer is 'further EU co-operation to ‘Europeanize’ the Anglo-French forward presence and under-gird EU maritime security more effectively.'

The report calls for 'institutional reforms' within the EU, adding: 'One of these may be for Britain and France to transfer the maintenance and upkeep of their military installations to a central institution, funded by all of the Member States.'

To oversee the changes, the EU must appoint a new 'Special Representative for Geo-strategy'.

Referring to Britain's two new giant aircraft carriers, the report adds: 'The sheer size and capability of these vessels will provide the Royal Navy - and potentially, the EU - with a greatly enhanced expeditionary and maritime power projection capability.'

Enthusiasts for European Defense want to see a common EU foreign policy backed by centrally-controlled EU military forces.

France has championed the cause for years and Nicolas Sarkozy is using France's six-month EU presidency to push proposals for a new EU military headquarters in Brussels and more EU Rapid Reaction Forces, each made up of 1,500 troops from member states. But opponents fear an EU Army will become a building block for a future European super-state.

Britain's Defense Secretary John Hutton fuelled concerns on taking office last year when he dismissed opposition to closer EU military ties as 'pathetic'.

Shadow Defense Secretary Dr Liam Fox warned today: 'Talk of a Grand Strategy betrays the real intentions of the European Commission”.

'The idea that we might turn our military bases over to the EU, for projects the British people have never given their assent to, is a twisted fantasy.'

Geoffrey Van Orden, Conservative defence spokesman in Brussels, said: 'These are among the most hubristic proposals the EU has yet produced in support of its defense policies.

'This has nothing to do with a genuine contribution to European security and everything to do with EU promotion of its own misplaced military ambitions.'

A MoD spokesman played down the proposals, saying use of British bases was a decision for the UK Government. He added: 'The UK's policy remains that there will be no standing European army, navy or air force. We have just one set of military forces and they don't belong to either NATO or the EU - they belong to us.