EU leaders will look to exploit Brexit to create a European Army and break through ‘last bastion of national sovereignty’
Senior officials plan to create a common defence structure to relaunch trade bloc after Britain’s exit
SENIOR officials are planning to use the creation of a European army to relaunch the EU after Britain leaves.
Brussels is hoping to exploit Brexit to break through “one of the last bastions of national sovereignty” with a common defence structure.
A report in says Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, will set out his vision for an EU without Britain next Wednesday, with a “Europe of Defence” at the heart of it.
Federica Mogherini, foreign affairs chief and vice-president of the commission, had reportedly delayed releasing details of the proposals drafted earlier this year before the UK’s referendum on EU membership.
But now Mr Juncker, who personally supports the creation of an EU military force to counter Russia, can use them as the centrepiece of his vision for the future of the EU.
The idea has always been controversial, with France vetoing the idea of a European army as an attack on national sovereignty more than 60 years ago.
But Mrs Mogherini said now was the time to finally bring the idea forward, which will include a unified command with a Brussels headquarters.
She told Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper: “For the first time since the death of the European Defence Community in 1954, I believe a window of opportunity has been opened to give life to a European defence.”
She said with the support of EU big-hitters France, Germany and Italy the plans, blocked by Britain for decades, could be pushed through on the back of Brexit.
“I wanted to send the message that, despite the British exit, Europe can and must move forward with the process of integration,” she said.
“The prospect of Brexit offered an opportunity not to be slowed by the country that was always most determinedly opposed to the idea of pooling the instruments of defence.”
Mrs Mogherini said creating the headquarters could lead to a pan-EU defence force, in effect replacing Nato as Europe’s primary security structure.
The plans will be discussed at a meeting of the other 27 European leaders at a summit in Bratislava next Friday, which will not include Theresa May.