The incoming French Presidency of the European Union is waiting until the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is over before it announces its plans for the beefing up of the EUs military capacity, including major spending increases, according to the Workers’ Party.

France takes over the EU Presidency from Slovenia on July 1st.

Workers Party Lisbon Treaty campaign director Padraig Mannion said that if reports carried by the BBC this morning (Friday) are correct, the way is being planned for EU military spending to be increased to 6% of GDP with a greater number of ‘rapid reaction forces’ and a vastly increased number of attack aircraft. 

Mr. Mannion said that the plans are due to be unveiled by French President Nicolas Sarkozy a few days after the Irish referendum.   Monsieur Sarkozy currently heads up the French presidency of the European Union.

“We already know for a fact, through leaked e-mails, that the EU governments have tried to bury any negative news and withhold controversial announcements until after Ireland holds its referendum on June 12^th, therefore we must take this report by the BBC seriously.  What France is proposing is in effect the EU army which Lisbon is laying the grounds for”, said Mr. Mannion.

“Even if the French do not get it all their own way with these plans, there is no doubt that further EU military expansion will go ahead and the only thing that can stop that now is a No vote by the Irish people next Thursday.  That is why it is essential for those who oppose the further militarization of the EU to come out and vote No to the Lisbon Treaty” declared Padraig Mannion.

Issued on Friday, 6th June 2008.

To read the BBC report click this link:-http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7439104.stm