British against EU military headquarters

Britain's foreign minister said his country would never agree to replacing command centers in member states with a single European Union military headquarters. William Hague told the EUobserver following a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels that the United Kingdom would not support a permanent operational HQ. "We will not agree to it now and we will not agree to it in the future," Hague said, adding that a permanent military headquarters would duplicate NATO structures and would be a "waste of money." The proposal was contained in a report by Baroness Catherine Ashton of Britain who is serving as the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. Ashton told a news conference Hague's position did not come as a surprise. "This is the same position as the previous British government," she said. "I am conscious you can't do much when unanimity of member states is required."