The European Parliament resolution of 21 January 2016 on the ‘mutual defence clause’ states that ‘the EU needs a permanent civil-military headquarters at strategic and operational levels, and that this structure should be tasked with strategic and operational contingency planning, including for collective defence as provided for by Article(…) 42(7) …TEU … in close cooperation with relevant NATO structures’.

This proposal to set up a ‘permanent civil-military headquarters’ in the EU and the activation of Article 42(7) reflect an escalation of imperialist interventionism by the EU in other countries, such as Syria where, on the pretext of tackling ‘jihadis’ and ‘terrorism’, people are being slaughtered.

This ‘headquarters’, which will cooperate with NATO structures, the strengthening of repressive mechanisms, such as the Frontex and Europol, and the establishment of a new European border guard and coast guard show the further militarisation of the EU as it moves towards establishing an EU army.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

What view does it take of the proposal to establish a ‘permanent civil-military headquarters’ for the EU and its further militarisation?