Security expert stresses EU reliance on UK intelligence as May makes 'commitment' to bloc

International security consultant Olivier Guitta, who
has advised Nato and Europol, stressed the importance
of Britain’s commitment.
He said the UK was one of the European bloc’s
“major” providers of information after the Prime
Minister met with Angela Merkel in Estonia and
insisted the UK would remain "unconditionally
committed to maintaining Europe's security" after the
EU exit.
Mr Guitta told Sky News : “The UK’s one of the major
countries that provide information to Europol and has
extremely good links and relationship with other EU
countries.”
He said some EU members would regularly “go
directly” to the UK to talk about cases as is was
“quicker” and because of fears of “potential leaks” in
the bloc.
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The expert said Mrs May’s “unconditional” pledge to
the EU was “quite important”.
Mr Guitta said: “I think it was quite important
especially that we’ve seen in the past two years
terrorism within western Europe coming to the fore of
the news cycle and also in the life of people.
“And especially when you see how transnational
movements are happening and we’ve seen the case in
Paris where the perpetrators came from Belgium so
there’s a huge importance in terms of exchange of
information.
“And the UK’s one of the main countries in terms of
gathering information with its bit on electronic
intelligence.”
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The comments come after the Prime Minister insisted
Britain would “always stand with our allies”.
She said: “While we are leaving the EU, as I have said
many times, we are not leaving Europe.
"So the UK is unconditionally committed to maintaining
Europe's security.
"We will continue to offer aid and assistance to EU
member states that are the victim of armed
aggression, terrorism and natural or man-made
disasters."

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