EU's Junker urges NATO members to pay defense share

Source: Xinhua   2017-03-16 22:10:08

STRASBOURG, March 16 (Xinhua) -- European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has thrown his weight behind calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for NATO members to "pay their share" of Europe's defense.

The demand by Trump has been attacked in some quarters even though figures released this week by NATO showed that only five NATO members currently meet defense spending targets.

NATO members committed to spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense but the majority have failed to honor this.

NATO revealed that while military spending among NATO members had increased, their total spending last year was well below the 2-percent goal.

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly said EU countries should pay a larger share for their defence.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker said he agreed with Trump, saying, "We have to take care of our defense and our defense budgets. And the U.S. is not wrong to say this. We signed a commitment and we have to respect this.

"Trump is not the first to say this. He is the fourth U.S. president who I have dealt with and (former U.S. presidents) Clinton, Bush, and Obama were all saying exactly the same thing."

Juncker also addressed the Commission's new White Paper on the EU's future, insisting that he was not calling for a 2-speed Europe.

He said, "I repeat again that this is not about a 2-speed Europe. To say so is a misreading of the White Paper."

He told the monthly parliamentary plenary, "Nor is this about creating a new iron curtain between the East and West in Europe but, rather, it is about deeper EU integration and enhanced cooperation."

Juncker added, "I'd like to see everyone in Europe involved in the debate on the future of the EU. The commission does not want to dictate to anyone and say this and that is so."

"This narrow view of the EU just being about an internal market alone is not my choice. We need a wider debate."

The debate with MEPs comes 10 days before the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Rome treaty. It will be marked by several events next week in Rome and a showpiece summit of EU leaders.

Addressing MEPs in the same discussion, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni agreed with Juncker.

"We cannot have a 1st- and 2nd-class Europe, a Europe of the east and west. Everyone must be involved in this common European project. But at the same time Europe cannot stand still," Gentiloni said.

European Council President Donald Tusk said he hoped the Rome summit will be a "turning point" for the EU.

Malta's deputy PM, Louis Grech, representing the Maltese EU presidency, said, "Brexit is unfortunate we but cannot allow it to distract us.

"Talk of an existential crisis for the EU has become the norm and it would be a big mistake to underestimate the challenges.

"But it would be an even bigger mistake to do nothing and become negative. This would pave the way for the eventual erosion of the EU," Grech said.

European People's Party leader Manfred Weber said effort was needed to make Brussels and Strasbourg more acceptable to the public.

"We should not be seen as an external force that forces people into something they do not like. But this is something we should be saying every day," Weber said.

Socialist leader Gianna Pittella said "urgent action is needed to relaunch the EU project".

He added, "But in Rome, we cannot speak in a vacuum or in slogans. Populism and Trumpism is currently very strong partly because we, the EU, have not been able to explain our achievements. But if we stand united we can face them down."

"The EU dream which existed 60 years has run into peaks of enthusiasm and then stagnation but we must save the EU project," Pittella added.

Editor: Zhang Dongmiao
Related News
Xinhuanet

EU's Junker urges NATO members to pay defense share

Source: Xinhua 2017-03-16 22:10:08

STRASBOURG, March 16 (Xinhua) -- European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has thrown his weight behind calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for NATO members to "pay their share" of Europe's defense.

The demand by Trump has been attacked in some quarters even though figures released this week by NATO showed that only five NATO members currently meet defense spending targets.

NATO members committed to spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense but the majority have failed to honor this.

NATO revealed that while military spending among NATO members had increased, their total spending last year was well below the 2-percent goal.

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly said EU countries should pay a larger share for their defence.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker said he agreed with Trump, saying, "We have to take care of our defense and our defense budgets. And the U.S. is not wrong to say this. We signed a commitment and we have to respect this.

"Trump is not the first to say this. He is the fourth U.S. president who I have dealt with and (former U.S. presidents) Clinton, Bush, and Obama were all saying exactly the same thing."

Juncker also addressed the Commission's new White Paper on the EU's future, insisting that he was not calling for a 2-speed Europe.

He said, "I repeat again that this is not about a 2-speed Europe. To say so is a misreading of the White Paper."

He told the monthly parliamentary plenary, "Nor is this about creating a new iron curtain between the East and West in Europe but, rather, it is about deeper EU integration and enhanced cooperation."

Juncker added, "I'd like to see everyone in Europe involved in the debate on the future of the EU. The commission does not want to dictate to anyone and say this and that is so."

"This narrow view of the EU just being about an internal market alone is not my choice. We need a wider debate."

The debate with MEPs comes 10 days before the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Rome treaty. It will be marked by several events next week in Rome and a showpiece summit of EU leaders.

Addressing MEPs in the same discussion, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni agreed with Juncker.

"We cannot have a 1st- and 2nd-class Europe, a Europe of the east and west. Everyone must be involved in this common European project. But at the same time Europe cannot stand still," Gentiloni said.

European Council President Donald Tusk said he hoped the Rome summit will be a "turning point" for the EU.

Malta's deputy PM, Louis Grech, representing the Maltese EU presidency, said, "Brexit is unfortunate we but cannot allow it to distract us.

"Talk of an existential crisis for the EU has become the norm and it would be a big mistake to underestimate the challenges.

"But it would be an even bigger mistake to do nothing and become negative. This would pave the way for the eventual erosion of the EU," Grech said.

European People's Party leader Manfred Weber said effort was needed to make Brussels and Strasbourg more acceptable to the public.

"We should not be seen as an external force that forces people into something they do not like. But this is something we should be saying every day," Weber said.

Socialist leader Gianna Pittella said "urgent action is needed to relaunch the EU project".

He added, "But in Rome, we cannot speak in a vacuum or in slogans. Populism and Trumpism is currently very strong partly because we, the EU, have not been able to explain our achievements. But if we stand united we can face them down."

"The EU dream which existed 60 years has run into peaks of enthusiasm and then stagnation but we must save the EU project," Pittella added.

[Editor: huaxia]
010020070750000000000000011100001361346201