This proposal is for the creationby the EU of a powerful and effective standing civilian airwing as part of a common foreign policy that projects positive power to those individuals and families who find themselves powerless in the face of disaster or anarchy.

(1) To mitigate the consequences of war, anarchy and disaster with direct action using the air.

(2) To maximize allocated EU resources by using a flexible approach, i.e.:
(a) Retaining a corps of professionals augmented with professional contractors and low-paid temporary volunteers to operate the aircraft, build and maintain camps, drop and landing zones etc. and man auxiliary services.
(b) Focus and transport recognized official and NGO workers and resources at their own request to their target areas at no cost to their respective organisations. Harmonize the flow of the correct type of aid necessary for a particular problem and transport it at the lowest cost.

(3) Provide a low cost, effective extra tool for European governments to use in areas where anarchy reigns, without affecting member nations sovereignty or putting their armed forces at risk or, for instance, whilst deciding what to do about a particular crisis where an immediate military response is not appropriate. This would include natural disasters.

(4) Satisfy voters wishes that 'something be done' without actually taking sides.

(5) Provide an interface with the sort of support only governments can provide, for example the diplomatic services of 27 core nations and associate nations plus affiliated commonwealths for the specific purpose of bringing relief to the innocent. Not peacekeeping or peacemaking. Political problems could continue to be dealt with by existing institutions. I would expect a maturing of the role of the airwing to form part of a unified Euro-policy towards the defeat of war, anarchy and the consequences of disaster.

(6) Relieve the various militaries of what is for them an onerous duty that diverts military personnel and their equipment from their strategic responsibilities.
Negatively impacting defence budgets and using up airframe cycles and life without a positive contribution to military planning.

(7) Provide a reservoir of prepaid expertise and equipment for UN operations.
(8) Provide prompt non-military First Action.

(9) Provide a very welcome role for European and American manufactured aircraft in these difficult days of defence budget cutbacks across a contribution base of the 27 EU countries.

(10) Counter religious extremism.
(a) An IHA would demonstrate that the enormous physical power of ‘the west’ can be used exclusively for the good of all. An effective IHA would confront the ideas that feed terrorism.
(b) The recruitment of Muslim pilots, engineers and support staff to work alongside everyone else would do much to demonstrate to the people of ‘the west’ that most Muslims can coexist and contribute constructively. An IHA would be an inspirational force that we could all be proud of, no matter what our nationality or culture is. It would give Muslims and Islamic nations a unique opportunity to participate, financially and in person, in a new western institution without guilt or political risk.

I have a thousand reasons why a EuropeAid airwing would be a rational and effective tool to project European will but it all boils down to one core universal fact of life: In the end there is nothing more important to any person than the safety and well being of their family, whatever nationality, race, creed, culture, politics, role or status. It is through the recognition of this fact that all other benefits will flow.
There are times when even developed nations do not have enough capability to tackle an overwhelming disaster.
The EU would be seen to be a powerful force for good in the world and at long last things are going to change for the better in the conduct of nations.
PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL. Thankyou.