European army

The European army or EU army are terms for a hypothetical army of the European Union which would supersede the Common Security and Defence Policy and would go beyond the proposed European Defence Union. Currently, there is no such army, and defence is a matter for the member states.

Background

The idea of a European army was first discussed in 1950. It was proposed by France and would have consisted of the "Inner Six" countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany), in order to strengthen defence against the Soviet threat without directly rearming Germany in the wake of World War II.[1][2] In 1952 the Treaty establishing the European Defence Community was signed but not ratified by the signatories.[3]

However, during the Cold War, Western Europe relied on NATO for defence, precluding the development of European cooperation.[4] Immediately after the "fall of communism", the defence apparatus was preoccupied by NATO expansion into the former Soviet bloc. The idea of a European army gained popularity after the September 11 attacks and NATO's involvement in conflicts outside of Europe. In a phenomenon dubbed diversification of European security, NATO has come to be responsible for "hard" threats while the European Union has taken a greater role in "soft" threats, including peacekeeping in the western Balkans.[4] The 2009 Treaty of Lisbon also has furthered defence integration within the EU.[4] This has led to support for a European Defence Union, which would be a step higher in collaboration than the current Common Security and Defence Policy.[5]

In 2019, Germany and the Netherlands activated 414 Tank Battalion, the first that included soldiers from two EU countries. The battalion was created because Germany did not have enough soldiers, while the Netherlands lacked tank capability. This was described as a step towards a European army.[2] The Franco-German Brigade in Alsace has been less successful due to greater linguistic and cultural differences.[2]

Under the current arrangement, there is no EU army and defence is reserved for the member states.[6]

Characteristics

The term "European army" is vague and it is not entirely clear what it would entail.[7] Increasing integration would make security more efficient and less expensive for member states.[5]

Support and opposition

Support

French president Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both expressed their support for a joint European army. Macron endorsed the idea in 2018, after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and in light of American President Donald Trump's scepticism of Atlanticism.[8] Other European politicians who have expressed support include former French prime minister Alain Juppé (in 1996),[9] former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, former Czech prime ministers Miloš Zeman and Bohuslav Sobotka, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. A European army is on the official programme of the European People’s Party.[10]

Dutch deputy prime minister Kajsa Ollongren supports the idea while defence minister Ank Bijleveld opposes it.[11] It is also opposed by Eurosceptic politicians in the EU, such as Ryszard Legutko.[1][8] NATO has been described as the "biggest obstacle" to a European army.[12]

A 2019 survey found that 37% of Dutch citizens "approved the idea of a European army" while 30% are opposed to formation of an army of all EU members.[13]

In 2021, The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella spoke about the need to create a European army, after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan ended the War in Afghanistan allowing the takeover by the Taliban.[14][15] Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi also spoke in favour of the creation of the European army to protect Europe's borders.[16] The Italian Army General, Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, also expressed the need to set up a European army as soon as possible.[17]

At the 2021 State of the Union address delivered by the President of the European Commission to the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen said to European Union members that "what we need is the European Defence Union" and that "...the European Union is a unique security provider. There will be missions where NATO or the UN will not be present but where Europe should be... There have been many discussions on expeditionary forces. On what type and how many we need: battlegroups or EU entry forces. This is no doubt part of the debate – and I believe it will be part of the solution. But the more fundamental issue is why this has not worked in the past." and announced a 'Summit on European defence'[18]

On 17 September 2021, the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi talked about the European army at the end of the EuMed summit in Athens, with an urgent tone for its establishment. [19]

The announcement of the AUKUS "trilateral security partnership" between Australia, UK and US to "sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region" is seen as an attempt to limit China's rise as a global military power. However, this has led to some mistrust in Europe, in particular in France, that has contributed to increasing the process of the formation of a European Army.[20][21]

On 28 September 2021, Greece and France signed a multibillion-euro military agreement. The Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the idea of a European army “a mature proposal” and that this agreement could be a first big step towards a European army.[22]

The Paneuropean Union actively supports the creation of a European army.[23]

Opposition

According to NATO officials, the alliance has discouraged independent European defence capabilities, both as an attempt to avoid duplication and as a moral hazard effect from US defence subsidies prompting less military spending by European countries. The United States ambassador to NATO also expressed opposition to any European protectionism in developing its own defence industry. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the European Union could not defend itself without NATO and should not try to form a European army.[12]

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of NATO's presence in Italy, Mattarella spoke of a strengthening of European defense within the alliance with NATO.[24]

Polling Summary

In April 2022, YouGov conducted a survey in European Union member countries and the United Kingdom asking for support for the creation of an integrated European army. The results of this survey are presented in the table below.[25]

2022 Polling
Country Support Opposition Don't know Lead Change since 2021
Poland 57 28 21 29 3%
Romania 51 23 26 28 – 4%
Hungary 50 29 21 21 – 5%
Lithuania 62 22 16 40 5%
Finland 53 21 25 32 8%
Sweden 48 27 25 21 9%
Denmark 41 39 20 3 5%
Spain 64 21 15 43 7%
Greece 55 27 17 28 – 8%
Italy 50 30 20 20 0%
Netherlands 61 23 17 38 9%
Germany 58 27 15 31 4%
France 55 24 21 31 3%
United Kingdom 34 35 30 -1 10%
Croatia 49 23 28 26 –
Slovakia 44 37 19 7 –
Bulgaria 39 33 28 6 –

See also

References
  1. Tigner, Brooks (13 November 2018). "A 'European' army? eminently defensible but not probable for a long time to come". New Atlanticist newsletter. Atlantic Council. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  2. Bennhold, Katrin (20 February 2019). "A European Army? The Germans and Dutch Take a Small Step". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. Pastor-Castro, Rogelia (2006). "The Quai d'Orsay and the European Defence Community Crisis of 1954". History. 91 (3): 386–400. doi:10.1111/j.1468-229X.2006.00371.x. JSTOR 24427965.
  4. Basov, Fyodor (25 September 2019). "Is Europe ready for its own army?". World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the Valdai Discussion Club. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. Barbière, Cécile (9 June 2017). "France joins Commission in backing European Defence Union". Euractiv. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  6. "EU army myth: what is Europe really doing to boost defence?". European Parliament. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. Franke, Ulrike Esther (3 December 2018). "The "European army", a tale of wilful misunderstanding". European Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  8. Maïa de La Baume and David M. Herszenhorn (13 November 2018). "Merkel joins Macron in calling for EU army to complement NATO". Politico. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  9. James, Barry (14 March 1996). "Juppé Calls for a Large European Army Capable of Acting Without U.S." The New York Times. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  10. Gros-Verheyde, Nicolas (16 November 2018). "European army: No longer a taboo subject". Euractiv. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  11. "Kajsa Ollongren (D66) lijnrecht tegenover haar eigen kabinet: Ik wil een Europees leger". ThePostOnline (in Dutch). 26 November 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  12. Herszenhorn, David M. (14 February 2019). "Europe's NATO problem". Politico. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  13. Kamer, Lars (4 March 2020). "Netherlands: opinion on the formation of a European army 2019". Statista. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  14. "Mattarella: "La Ue non incide". E invoca l'esercito europeo" (in Italian). ilgiornale.it. ilgiornale.it. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  15. "Mattarella: all'Europa servono una politica estera e di sicurezza comune, finora è stata troppo timida" (in Italian). corriere.it. corriere.it. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  16. "Berlusconi: "Sogno gli Stati Uniti dʼEuropa"" (in Italian). mediaset.it. TGCom24. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  17. "Graziano, Ue si doti di una forza rapida, il momento è ora". ansa.it. ansa.it. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  18. "2021 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen". European Commission. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  19. "Draghi: "Sull'energia la Ue sia acquirente come per vaccini" "Non c'è più tempo, azione convinta contro cambiamenti climatici"" (in Italian). tgcom24.mediaset.it. tgcom24.mediaset.it. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  20. "Cina infuriata per il patto tra Usa, Gb e Australia: "Estremamente irresponsabile" La Francia (e l'Ue) accusano Biden: "Ci ha pugnalati alle spalle"" (in Italian). tgcom24.mediaset.it. tgcom24.mediaset.it. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  21. Mitter, Rana (17 September 2021). "The Aukus pact is a sign of a new global order". theguardian.com. theguardian.com. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  22. Smith, Helena (28 September 2021). "Greece to buy French warships in multibillion-euro defence deal". The Guardian.
  23. "Paneurope". www.international-paneuropean-union.eu.
  24. "Mattarella: "Rafforzamento della Difesa Ue rafforza anche la Nato"" (in Italian). tgcom24.mediaset.it. tgcom24.mediaset.it. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  25. "Support for EU army grows across Europe following Russian invasion of Ukraine | YouGov". Retrieved 2023-07-25.
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