Military cooperation in Europe, in spite of the Brexit?

the UK's military capabilities are important for the EU and international assignments - but how to do it after the Brexit? Both sides want a partnership.

Kai Küstner, NDR

You could hear it in the minds of the listener chatter, as the British defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson took during his speech at the Munich security conference in mid-February, the audience on a short trip in the not so recent past: "We are proud, very proud of our deep and long-standing friendship with Germany. 260 years ago, we fought side by side in the battle of Minden."

Minden. Minden? What was that again, exactly?

defence Minister Williamson promised in Munich is a continuation of the cooperation.

In 1759, the Prussian troops of Frederick the Great decided here, together with the British in an important battle of the seven year's war - against the French army. This explanation is not with supplied Williamson, so that the security conference-the audience was only left to ask the person sitting next to or on the Smartphone.

the message of The British is likely to be arrived, nevertheless, with regard to safety, is connected to the Kingdom much too closely with Germany, with Europe as the upcoming divorce will solve this gang completely. "We have already contributed to the European security, before there was the EU or NATO at all. We are going to do well over the withdrawal from the European Union."

fights over the "Galileo"

But is everything so Far is outlined in the discharge agreement attached political Declaration only vaguely, as a future security partnership between the EU and the UK might look like.

And, even a cursory glance in the direction of the star proves how complicated is likely to be: the EU and the British have fallen out already on the satellite navigation system "Galileo". The System was conceived by the Europeans as a rival to the GPS of the United States. Because now, the EU began for the future third country, the United Kingdom of certain development steps exclude, got out of London completely, and to think about a participation in competing systems.

made it Difficult to chase criminals?

could be difficult, it is the whole area of Internal security, i.e. the police cooperation and the fight against terrorism, believes the Deputy Director of the research Institute, German society for Foreign policy, Christian Mölling. Because the Brexit-hardliners wanted to get rid of what you need in this area is urgent: A common and pan-European network of laws and regulations.

Mölling warns: "Otherwise, someone who was wanted in Germany with a British arrest warrant walk out of prison again, because his lawyer argued: 'The arrest warrant has no legal framework and suspend.'" The common criminals hunting could be perhaps more difficult than military cooperation.

"This is all not so easy"

Even though both sides profess to want to the defense cooperation is also entirely free of hurdles. An example: the participation of the British EU military missions: "The all is not so simple, because that would also mean that you would have to give to great Britain from the British point of view a seat at the decision-making table," says Mölling. "You have just left."

so Far, the UK is involved in many operations - such as here in the African state of Mali. And in the future?

involvement without participation?

This is likely to be, in fact, one of the focal points of the discussions: How closely the EU approach, the military is quite heavy the UK in the future, without the country the same benefits as a real member of grant? Or conversely: Why should send the British soldiers in EU missions, in which you can't have a say?

"If you would have to lift something, such as the Balkan wars again, would you stand there without the Brits very much worse. The rule of thumb, have the British in the EU currently, 20 percent of the skills and 25 percent of the major military capabilities. Everything that has to do with reconnaissance and Transport, can provide to the British," Mölling. The question is whether London will also do this.

Paradoxical

history of irony-is not a free also proves the Brexit: Had blocked the government in London, but, for decades, everything related to closer military cooperation in the EU, it shows now on the brink of Brexit enthusiasm that only a few of them had to trust on the mainland to the British.

in any case, the Kingdom signaled strong interest to participate in this process. What that has to do not only, but also to the domestic defense industry will not suffer if the EU now with the newly created defense Fund joint projects - be it pushes drone, or other device. A fear that is of concern to the United States.

The combination of a Brexit, and US President, Donald Trump have been able to do, the Europeans, in a kind of shock therapy to understand that they also need to be militarily self-reliant. The British, however, the interest in European cooperation in the field of security, paradoxically, seems to be, despite the impending exit from the EU to grow more.

The EU will allow this new impetus of the permanent UN security Council member is unlikely to completely fizzle out, even if you can be immune to the issue of Brexit hardly a Surprise.

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EU military headquarters - the British Blockade to enter, 12.05.2017 Atlas |UK |London

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