Berlin eyes EU defence union without UK

Berlin, July 13: Germany and France want to forge closer defence cooperation in the European Union following the departure of Britain, which has “paralysed” such initiatives in the past, German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

Presenting a report on German security policy, Ms von der Leyen said Germany and France would lead talks with other countries to assess their appetite for common projects and with the long- term aim of moving toward a common security and defence union.

“I can tell you from experience that in the past Britain has said it will not do these things,” she told a news conference.

“This paralysed the European Union on the issues of foreign and security policy. This cannot mean that the rest of Europe remains inactive, but rather we need to move forward on these big issues.”

Britain voted in a referendum on June 23 to leave the bloc after 43 years of membership.

Ms Von der Leyen suggested the construction of a European “civilian- military headquarters”, from which EU missions could be deployed, as well as a European medical force.

In the report on security policy, the government said: “Germany’s security environment has become even more complex, volatile, dynamic and thus increasingly unpredictable”.