Agence Europe (Link) (March 9, 2009)
Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for CFSP, agreed to answer our questions ahead of the European Defence Agency’s annual conference 2009. He answered as follows:
EDD: During the 2007 conference you launched the catchphrase: spend more, spend better, spend more together. Is this still valid in these times of crisis or should one be resigned to see further cuts in defence spending?
Javier Solana: Now defence budgets may come under increasing pressure due to the financial-economic crisis it will be even more important to do more together. Within Europe there is too much fragmentation and duplication, from Research & Technology to industrial supply. More and better capabilities can be realised with the same amount of money when Member States collaborate more, which is exactly what the Agency is aiming at.
EDD: Given the vital shortage of helicopters
,
are the projects entrusted to EDA sufficient?
J.S.:
The Agency has promising activities to improve the availability of helicopters for crisis management operations, focusing on training pilots in the short-term, on upgrading helicopters in the medium-term and on the development of the Future Transport Helicopter in the long-term. All these activities will contribute to increased availability of helicopter capabilities, which are essential for our operations.
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