EU army is a ‘long-term’ German goal

GERMANY’S long-term aim is an EU army, says the country’s defence minister has revealed.

Ursula von der Leyen has said she wants more rigorous defence co-operation so the continent can respond quickly to international crises.

But the comments by the German minister will raise fears that her country will back the call by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for an EU force.

In March, Mr Juncker claimed the EU needed its own army so it would be taken more seriously on the international stage.

He said: ‘A common army... would convey to Russia we are serious about defending the values of the EU.’

But Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband have insisted they will not sign Britain up to such a force.

After a meeting in the Netherlands, Mrs von der Leyen said: ‘The European army is our long-term goal.’ She added: ‘The United States also wants us Europeans as a powerful force within Nato.

‘The ebola crisis alone, or the attack of Isis on the Yazidi, has shown that Europe must be more flexible and have faster access anywhere in the world.’

Mrs von der Leyen said such a project would probably only be something her children would experience.

In response to Mr Juncker, a UK Government spokesman said: ‘Our position is crystal clear: defence is a national, not an EU, responsibility.’