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EU: France and Germany propose EU 'defence union'

12 September 2016

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"Germany and France have drawn up plans for closer EU defence cooperation, including a new military HQ and swifter deployment of overseas missions.

The ideas were outlined by the two countries’ defence ministers, Ursula Von der Leyen and Jean-Yves Le Drian, in a six-page paper sent to the EU foreign service on Sunday (11 September) and seen by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and French daily Le Figaro.

The paper says, according to Le Figaro, that “in the context of a deteriorating security environment … it is high time to reinforce our solidarity and European defence capabilities in order to more effectively protect the citizens and borders of Europe”.

The UK had in the past opposed steps toward the creation of an EU army or duplication of Nato structures."

See: France and Germany propose EU 'defence union' (EUobserver, link)

These ideas were put forward immediately after the 'Brexit' vote in a paper by the German and French foreign ministers: A strong Europe in a world of uncertainties (pdf). And see: EU says "soft power is not enough" as German and French ministers call for "European Security Compact" (Statewatch News Online, 6 July 2016)

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