France critical of British defense snub

BRUSSELS, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The French defense minister is criticizing Britain for refusing to support a $9 million budget increase for the European Defense Agency.

Britain says it wants more information on how the agency plans to spend the money, the EU Observer said.

The newspaper said Britain refused to approve the a three-year budget that would boost the agency's funds from $28 million in 2007 to $37 million in 2009.

"Haggling over ($1.3 million) for an agency which will be decisive in providing us with the resources and research means to prepare the future EU defense -- that seemed to me a bit of a joke," French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told French media.

The newspaper said Britain also refused to support a common defense research fund that would look into developing new military technology.