Borrell discusses whether EU plans to create its own army
Photo: EU diplomat Josep Borrell (Getty Images)
Defense is the competence of the European Union member states. Therefore, countries should cooperate rather than have a single army, according to Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat.
"Defense is a member state competence. The point is not about having an EU army but rather to work better together among the 27 armies," he says.
For years, France, Germany, and even Hungary have called for a single EU army. But in the past few months, as European leaders have been engaged in intense debates about the EU's defense ambitions, voices calling for an EU army have largely fallen silent.
EU strategy
Earlier it was reported that the European Commission was developing a strategy for the development of the defense industry, taking into account the experience of using taxpayer funds to increase the production of COVID-19 vaccines and joint gas purchases.
It was expected that the European Commission would propose a plan to EU countries to stimulate their military industry so that it could move to a "war economy regime" as soon as possible in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The European Commission wants Ukraine to participate in the proposed new schemes to increase joint procurement and production capacity.
The day before, the European Commission presented the first-ever European Defense and Industrial Strategy at the EU level. Ukrainian industry will also be integrated into the European plan.
