EU adopts tough-guy tactics to rival US

June 21 2003

The European Union has embraced a new doctrine of hard-nosed 
military intervention around the world. Outlining the EU's ambition 
to match the United States as a full economic and military superpower 
and facing up to the threat of terrorism, EU leaders meeting in Greece 
on Thursday ditched their strategy of "soft power".  

Instead, they favoured a more muscular mix, including pre-emptive 
strikes against dangerous regimes if necessary.  

The text, agreed by EU leaders at dinner on Thursday in the resort of 
Porto Carras, said the EU could no longer rely on static "Cold War" 
defence against terrorists determined to use "unlimited violence and 
cause massive casualties".  

"Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is the single most 
important threat to peace and security among nations," said the 
text, drafted by Javier Solana, the EU's security chief.  

"The new threats are dynamic. Left alone, terrorist networks will become 
ever more dangerous. We should have tackled al- Qaeda much earlier.  

"This implies that we should be ready to act before a crisis occurs," 
Mr Solana said.  

"As a union of 25 states with more than 450 million people producing a 
quarter of the world's gross national product, the EU is, like it or not, 
a global actor - it should be ready to share in the responsibility for 
global security."  

EU leaders at the meeting are also likely to match a US initiative to 
combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.  

A draft statement urged member states and the European Commission 
"to make a substantial contribution" to a global fund to fight HIV/AIDS, 
tuberculosis and malaria. EU contributions to the fund are expected to 
reach US1 billion [$1.48 billion] by next year.  

Pressing economic issues, however, have been deferred. The EU 
postponed talks on reforming its crippling system of farm subsidies 
until next week.  

The Telegraph, London; Reuters

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Source: Sydney Morning Herald ...
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/20/1055828495848.html

Cheers, Steve..

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