Sarah Ludford MEP calls for EU to develop joint rapid reaction force

3.04.51pm GMT Mon 17th Jan 2005

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has welcomed the call in the European Parliament's resolution on the Tsunami disaster for the EU to develop a joint military capability so as to provide an effective response to other future humanitarian and natural disasters.

This was inserted by the European Liberal Democrat group at Sarah Ludford's instigation. She said:

"While European countries gave a generally rapid humanitarian response through civil assistance, there was an obvious need for military help for airlifting supplies and repairing roads, bridges and communications. The Americans were visibly there, but the EU as such was not, even though some individual member states did send navy ships."

"The EU has long pledged to have a military as well as civilian rapid reaction force available, and surely one of its tasks would be to respond to natural disasters as well as conflict. It is about time the wish was translated into reality."

"To see for example a French aircraft carrier with German helicopters and British marines collaborating in action to save lives would be a powerful demonstration, not least to Europeans, of the point of having a European Union."