Fallon: EU Army will be threat to Nato
BRITAIN will continue to fight the creation of a Euro Army amid fears it will “simply duplicate or undermine” Nato, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said yesterday.
Speaking at a meeting of EU defence ministers, he said the growing threat from terrorism and migration is not enough to justify a new continent-wide force.
France and Germany and commission president Jean-Claude Juncker want an EU military command, more defence spending and joint development of assets such as helicopters and drones.
But most EU members – including Britain, France and Germany – already belong to the transatlantic alliance Nato.
And at the meeting in Slovakian capital Bratislava, Sir Michael said: “We agree Europe needs to step up to the challenges of terrorism and of migration. We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or EU army headquarters, which would simply undermine Nato.
“Nato must remain a cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe.”
Stressing that not just Britain opposed the idea, he said: “There are a number of other countries who believe that cuts across sovereignty of individual nation states.
“We agree Europe needs to do more, it is facing terrorism, it is facing migration, but simply duplicating or undermining Nato is a wrong way to do it.”
Earlier this month Juncker’s push for a Euro Army was branded a threat to stability by a top British commander.
Major General Julian Thompson, who led 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War and is chairman of Veterans for Britain, said: “Juncker’s concept risks undermining an organisation that has kept the peace for 70 years. It is driven by a desire to establish a unitary state of Europe.”