In 2015, our membership of the European Union is not just a matter of trade and commerce, of pounds and pence. It is about our national security as well as our economic security. So said the Prime Minister David Cameron in a speech at the think-tank Chatham House, setting out his case for EU reform.
The PM said: “The world is undoubtedly a more dangerous place than when I made my speech at Bloomberg three years ago.” He named the Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine, the emergence of ISIL, and the migration flows triggered by the war in Syria. For the speech visit the Chatham House website.
A maritime security company, Maritime Asset Security & Training (MAST), picked up on Mr Cameron’s mentioning of national security as part of the Brexit debate.
Gerry Northwood, former Royal Navy counter-piracy commander, pictured, COO of MAST, said: “EUNAVFOR is a uniquely European style solution to the problem of countering piracy in the Indian Ocean. While some of the initial drive came from narrow individual member state interests, the collegiate approach taken by the EU political and military leadership – vigorously supported by the UK as the lead member state – ensured that it developed into a consensus-driven mission which was able to accommodate high ideals of ethics, focussed leadership and operational rigour.
“Having the opportunity to lead the operation within the EU framework permitted the UK to successfully espouse support for International law and National laws as appropriate to combat a criminal threat which was having a significant global impact.
“The EU framework gave the mission the status and gravitas it could never have had as a solely national endeavour and gave it the necessary reach across the shipping industry. It was also able to gain the buy in of those nations that wanted to stand out and go it alone. EUNAVFOR is a fine example of what the EU can jointly achieve for the common good through collective action buttressed by individual member state resolve and expertise.”
