Faced with budget cuts, the usefulness of the European Defense Agency

Faced with clear cuts in defense budgets, Cathy Ashton, the EU's High Representative, defended the role of the European Defense Agency (which she chairs) on October 14 on the BBC. The budget cuts it is the responsibility (of the Member States), let us be clear. But I think we can contribute in a European context, for example by looking at what the European Defense Agency can do – by making economies of scale, with R&D equipment, research and development, to build capabilities to work collaboratively. (...) There are also bilateral relations in the European Union. My role is not to interfere in that. But to see perhaps what added value we can bring. I have therefore asked the European Defense Agency to look carefully at what can be done, within its mandate, to support countries in maintaining their defense capabilities »