Arms expert warns of defence gap

Date: 24/01/02

THE events of 11 September should act as a 'wake up' call to Europe before it falls further behind the US in the defence sector, a major European armaments company is warning.

Tom Enders, executive vice-president of EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), said the atrocity highlighted the need to reverse ten years of steady reductions in European defence budgets.

'The US heavily outstrips Europe, not only on defence spending but also on research and technology. If nothing is done, the European defence industry will be forced to abandon any hope of competing on a global scale,' he warned.

Enders, whose Dutch-based defence electronics company is Europe's leading supplier of missile systems, was speaking ahead of a top-level defence conference in Brussels today, (January 24) where he is one of the keynote guests. Other speakers at the event include MEP Elmar Brok, chairman of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt and Sir Rupert Smith, ex-deputy Supreme Allied Commander (Europe).