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Is there an EU version of NATO, an agreement that all other countries would come to the aid of a member country if it is attacked?  Or is it all on the honor system?  Might explain why some countries want to know the US has their backs...  (For the record, I don't really believe in war, nor do I see Estonia being invaded by Russia, but for the sake of argument...)

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
by poemless on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 01:41:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Western European Union (A military organization, not orignating in the EU.) This has largely been subsumed within the EU in recent years.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg
by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 02:15:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Oh yeah, forgot about that one...

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by A swedish kind of death on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 06:00:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Their is no formal agreement, no. Four EU countries (Sweden, Finland, Austria and Ireland) are formally military non-aligned. Checking it up, Malta and Cyprus are not in NATO either.

There are however military cooperation, mainly under the wings of NATO, and with the common economic borders and the (somewhat) common foreign policy leaving an attacked member in the lurch is not really an option.

If NATO was to disappear my guess is that a formal alliance would soon appear among the EU countries, within or without the structure of the EU.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 05:54:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
common economic borders and the (somewhat) common foreign policy leaving an attacked member in the lurch is not really an option.

So things have changed since 1938?  

(seriously, I'm no fan of NATO, but you have to see where this is going...)

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 05:59:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, things has changed since 1938.

For example, say that Finland would be attacked. Finnish citizens has the right to move - to say Paris or London - within the EU framework. The finnish government would demand help in the council of ministers and finnish MEP would demand condemnation from the European parliament. While there is no formal military alliance having a member country conquered by a non-member would wreak havoc on the EU structure.

And EU has some of the strongest militaries in the world. In spending Britain and France regularly ends up on top five.

So the norwegian troops would have to be forced out of Finland.

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by A swedish kind of death on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 06:22:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thinking about it, Czechoslovakia had formal military alliances with France and USSR as well as guarantees from Britain. But it was traded in the great powers game.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
by A swedish kind of death on Fri Sep 28th, 2007 at 06:40:30 PM EST
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