Sant: EU defence plan not in interest of neutral countries like Malta

Former Maltese PM says EU does not even have clear definition of which State entity is its enemy 

Former Prime Minister and Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament that an EU “defence plan” would overlook the interests of neutral countries like Malta.

Sant said that although the European industrial-military complex was right to lobby for a harmonised market on weapons, this does not justify a “defence plan”.

“Is this really worth it? I think not,” the MEP told the EP during the debate on ‘EU defence plan and the future of Europe’.

“Worse, according to current thinking, internal and external security are different sides of the same coin. Not true. So the defence plan will likely proceed on the basis of contingent military responses, ad hoc.”

Sant said an EU defence plan can only work if based on a clear definition of what the common EU interest in defence against external threats from states, is.

“That definition does not yet exist in a coherent manner… such a plan would need a military doctrine explaining how security and defence interests would be ensured, based on pooled or jointly coordinated resources, able to conduct warfare. No such doctrine seems available for the foreseeable future,” Sant said.