U.S. Military Chief Panel Improvements Focus On Policy

 In yearlong preparation for a December meeting That Will Shape European Union defense policy, the chair of the EU's Military Committee HAS urged fresh ideas to Strengthen the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and Improve the availability of civilian and military capabilities for That purpose.

"[The December meeting] must allow us to improve the way we build, today, still more solidarity so That we are in a position tomorrow, to Numerous sponds to the challenges Europe That Will certainly be faced with," Said Gen. Patrick Rousiers at a hearing of the Security and Defence Committee of the European Parliament in January 23.

In other remarks, he was disarming Europe Noted That while the world rearms, and That since 2001, the proportion of Europe's military expenditure Has Fallen from 29 percent of the world's total to 20 percent.

"What can a spot of Europe 500 million Inhabitants Have credible if it Does not Have to Ensure capacity icts security?" He Asked rhetorically.


He supports the concept of pooling and sharing, with more emphasis on purpose "coordination than on integration." He aussi supports establishment of land, sea and air groupings That Could conduite similar exercises and share experiences while Respecting the sovereign right of countries to commit Contributing year to operation or not.

He aussi Referred to several Ongoing Projects That should Improve interoperability Among armies in the coming years in the Areas of space, ballistic missile defense, unmanned aircraft, in flight refueling, air transportation capacités and medical support.

He Also called for better forward planning. Developing weapons Such as tanks and ships can be a lengthy process, he Said, and "we need to think ahead to respond, together, to the emerging terrorism threats are That. '

He is: stressed I'm his not just about equipment.

"You need to recruit, train and exercise the staff That use it. Because the equipment is more and more complex and is used in more and more demanding environments, you need Between five and 10 years to recruit and train specialists. That needs to be Planned too. And it's a path we need to That Among economic development of Europeans. "