UK 'still paying £80 million for EU defence fund' says Habib
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Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib insisted that despite Brexit the UK has agreed to continue paying £80 million a year into the European Union’s defence fund. While speaking on the think tank Bruges Group’s Youtube channel, Mr Habib insisted that either Boris Johnson or his successor needs to ensure the UK stops paying. He added the UK should scrap the entire Brexit trade agreement to ensure freedom from the EU’s rules on the level playing field and fishing.
Mr Habib said: “I think the Government, and the future Government if this one won’t do it, should get absolutely ready to terminate the trade agreement.
“We need to get out of the level playing field, the fishing arrangements.
“We also need to get out of the contributions to the European defence fund.
“I don’t know if you are aware, but we are signed into about £80 million a year into the European defence fund.
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“I don’t know if you are aware, but we are signed into about £80 million a year into the European defence fund.
“That is done via something called Horizon Europe, it is just crazy and the Government should get ready to terminate it.”
Mr Habib has previously raised his concerns about the UK supporting the EU’s quest for a military and security branch that is not NATO.
During an interview with the Express.co.uk, he warned against the UK supporting the security structure PESCO.
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He said: “I am very concerned about defence and what might happen on defence.
“People may not know that PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) set up by the European Union, which is their alternative to NATO, was actually something set up in 2017.
“Which Theresa May, when Boris Johnson was foreign secretary, signed the United Kingdom up to.
“We actually signed into this European defence union after we had voted to leave the EU.
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“Boris Johnson did not jump up and down against it and, in fact, I think he is quoted at the time as saying something like we are leaving the EU and I wish them well in their military objectives.”
He closed by warning against the European dominating foreign policy through their own agencies rather than NATO.
He said: “The reason I am concerned about that is one we need to defend Europe through NATO not PESCO.
“It will turn our heads away from our natural allies the Americans and turn it towards the European Union dominated foreign policy.
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