{"id":69884,"date":"2021-05-06T03:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T01:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=69884"},"modified":"2021-09-10T12:35:31","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T10:35:31","slug":"feasibility-of-a-future-european-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/feasibility-of-a-future-european-army\/","title":{"rendered":"Feasibility of a future European army"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While there is no EU army and defence remains exclusively a matter for member states, the EU has recently taken big steps to boost defence cooperation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Since 2016, there has been significant progress in the area of EU security and defence with several concrete EU initiatives to encourage cooperation and reinforce Europe\u2019s capacity to defend itself. Read the overview of the latest developments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

High expectations for EU defence<\/h3>\n

Europeans expect the EU to guarantee security and peace. Three quarters (75%) are in favour of a common EU defence and security policy according to a special Eurobarometer on security and defence in 2017 and a majority (55%) were in favour of creating an EU army.<\/p>\n

More recently 68% of Europeans said they would like the EU to do more on defence (March 2018 Eurobarometer survey).<\/p>\n

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EU leaders realise that no EU country can tackle the current security threats in isolation. For example French President Macron called for a joint European military project\u00a0 in 2017, while German chancellor Merkel said \u201cwe ought to work on the vision of one day establishing a proper European army\u201d in her address to the European Parliament in November 2018.<\/p>\n

Moving towards a security and defence union has been one of the priorities of the von der Leyen Commission.<\/p>\n

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Recent EU measures to boost defence cooperation<\/h3>\n

A common EU defence policy is provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon (Article 42(2) TEU). However, the treaty also clearly states the importance of national defence policy, including Nato membership or neutrality.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the EU has begun to implement ambitious initiatives to provide more resources, stimulate efficiency, facilitate cooperation and support the development of capabilities:<\/p>\n