Sweden AND Finland could SNUB EU ARMY and join BRITISH-LED coalition backed by Nato
SWEDEN and Finland could be set to snub the European Union (EU) army and instead join the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) after receiving an invite to the alliance.
By JON ROGERS
Express.co.uk
Mon, Feb 6, 2017
The 10,000-strong military group, which has slowly been forming since December 2012 before plans for an EU-wide force, and is designed to either operate alone or jointly with Nato, United Nations or EU forces, sent invitations to the non-Nato countries this weekend.
Brussels ratified the creation of a single ‘super’ army that would cross the continent in November last year and is expected to cost UK taxpayers £420 million a year.
Lawmakers at the European Parliament voted 369-255 in favour of the proposals, which also calls for greater spending by nations on defence.
The JEF, which does not have any permanent troops, covers ground forces as well as both air and naval units and is led by British commanders while other countries that participate contribute specialist skills and troops.
Other countries that signed a letter of intent include Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands with the aim to create a fully operational force before 2018 – although the grouping can already be used if needed.
Secretary of Defence Jussi Niinistö, 46, confirmed the move yesterday and added that it would be put before the parliamentary committees in the near future with a decision likely to be made this spring.
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