Britain has deviated from this principle only once, when it agreed to participate in the Atalanta anti-piracy operation off the Horn of Africa – probably because it was placed in command. As a result, those who want a common European defense capability lack the means to create it, while those who have the means to create it do not want it (with the possible exception of France).
对英国来说，泛欧洲防务根本毫无意义。对于这一原则，英国只偏离过一次，即同意加入非洲之角亚特兰特（Atlante）反海盗行动，这或许是因为它能占据行动指挥的地位。于是，希望形成共同欧洲防务能力者缺少实施办法，而手握实施办法者又不愿实施（法国也许是个例外）。