Under the EU Flag

Newsletter 2009/08/18 - Under the EU Flag

ISLAMABAD/BERLIN/LONDON (Own report) - Government advisors in Berlin are calling for the activities of the British police and military in Pakistan to be placed under EU control. As recently formulated in a discussion paper of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Brussels is, at the moment, developing only economic activities in this South Asian country and, therefore, has insufficient clout to rival competition from the USA or China. The remedy could be the EU's becoming involved in the upgrading of the Pakistani military and repressive apparatus, along the lines of the German-European police initiatives in Southeast Europe and Afghanistan. For this, it would be necessary to integrate current British activities under EU authority. The SWP reminds of Great Britain's colonial past, to praise Brussels as allegedly unblemished. These government advisors also see an opportunity for the EU to extend its influence at the expense of the United States. In many respects, the USA has its hands tied due to the region's virulent anti-Americanism. Europe could profit from this void. This SWP demand is gaining in significance now because of Pakistan's greater importance, through the escalation in the war in Afghanistan, as the linchpin country for preventing a total defeat at the Hindu Kush.

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http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/56268