A British flag flies at the entrance of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, March 28, 2017. REUTERS/Yves HermanBRUSSELS - 13 November 2017: France, Germany and 20 other EU governments are set to sign a defense pact on Monday they hope marks a new era of European military integration to cement unity after Britain’s decision to quit the bloc.In Europe’s latest attempt to lessen its reliance on the United States, the 22 governments will create a formal club that should give the European Union a more coherent role in tackling international crises.“We’ve never come this far before,” said a senior EU official said of EU defense integration efforts that date back to a failed bid in the 1950s. Britain’s aerospace industry and its biggest defense firm BAE Systems fear losing out, diplomats said.Britain may be able to join in, but only on an exceptional basis if it provides substantial funds and expertise.Despite the broad show of support, France and Germany also have differences over what the club should seek to achieve. Paris originally wanted a vanguard of EU countries to bring money and assets to French-led military missions and projects.Berlin has sought to be more inclusive, saying even the smallest EU country may have expertise to offer. Some officials are wary that approach could reduce effectiveness.Proposals include work on a European medical command, a network of logistic hubs in Europe, creation of a European Crisis Response center, and joint training of military officers.

Source: Libya Today November 13, 2017 08:37 UTC