France, Germany present plan for European army despite UK opposition
Despite Britain's strict opposition to the creation of any EU army, the idea of forming a common European Army has recently been revitalized as EU ministers held first talks on common EU defense plan in Bratislava on Tuesday.
Germany's Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen cited how Europe had struggled to coordinate support during the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In 2011, the British and French air campaign in Libya also showed Europe's limits, as the operation quickly became reliant on the United States for refueling planes, logistics and military know-how.
The proposals include increasing spending on military missions, jointly developing assets such as helicopters and drones, expanding peacekeeping abroad and building stronger defenses against state-sponsored hackers in cyberspace.
Building on stop-start initiatives dating back to the late 1990s, the plans could strengthen the bloc's ability to respond without the help of the United States to challenges on its borders, such as failing states or a more aggressive Russia. European military spending is a fraction of the United States' and only a handful of countries, including Britain, Estonia and Greece, spend generously on defense. France is a major European military and Germany has many military assets but has traditionally been cautious given its history in the 20th century's two world wars. Britain has blocked such plans for years, fearing a European army run from Brussels. France, which along with Britain is Europe's main military power, now sees an opportunity to show leadership without London in the way.
The idea of creating EU army has gained a new impetus after the Brexit vote. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker earlier called for the creation of a European army back in 2015 to confront threats from Russia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted Tuesday that EU plans for increased defense cooperation after Britain's departure would not undermine the transatlantic military alliance. "There is no contradiction between strong European defense and strong NATO, actually it reinforces each other," Stoltenberg said as he attended a meeting of the union's 28 defense ministers in the Slovakian capital Bratislava. "The importance is that we avoid duplication, that it is complementary," he said alongside EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
His comments came after British defense minister Michael Fallon said Britain would "continue to oppose any idea of an EU army", and that EU plans to boost defense cooperation after Brexit would undermine NATO. European Parliament President Martin Schulz stated the UK would not have a veto over closer defense co-operation.
Germany's Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen cited how Europe had struggled to coordinate support during the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In 2011, the British and French air campaign in Libya also showed Europe's limits, as the operation quickly became reliant on the United States for refueling planes, logistics and military know-how.
The proposals include increasing spending on military missions, jointly developing assets such as helicopters and drones, expanding peacekeeping abroad and building stronger defenses against state-sponsored hackers in cyberspace.
Building on stop-start initiatives dating back to the late 1990s, the plans could strengthen the bloc's ability to respond without the help of the United States to challenges on its borders, such as failing states or a more aggressive Russia. European military spending is a fraction of the United States' and only a handful of countries, including Britain, Estonia and Greece, spend generously on defense. France is a major European military and Germany has many military assets but has traditionally been cautious given its history in the 20th century's two world wars. Britain has blocked such plans for years, fearing a European army run from Brussels. France, which along with Britain is Europe's main military power, now sees an opportunity to show leadership without London in the way.
The idea of creating EU army has gained a new impetus after the Brexit vote. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker earlier called for the creation of a European army back in 2015 to confront threats from Russia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted Tuesday that EU plans for increased defense cooperation after Britain's departure would not undermine the transatlantic military alliance. "There is no contradiction between strong European defense and strong NATO, actually it reinforces each other," Stoltenberg said as he attended a meeting of the union's 28 defense ministers in the Slovakian capital Bratislava. "The importance is that we avoid duplication, that it is complementary," he said alongside EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
His comments came after British defense minister Michael Fallon said Britain would "continue to oppose any idea of an EU army", and that EU plans to boost defense cooperation after Brexit would undermine NATO. European Parliament President Martin Schulz stated the UK would not have a veto over closer defense co-operation.