The freshly appointed UK defence secretary has publicly supported on Monday the idea of a European army. This position is a U-turn as the UK, the largest of the EU's big-three military spenders ahead of France and Germany, had indeed until now opposed this idea of a common EU force, arguing that it would unnecessarily duplicate tasks performed by NATO. The French EU Presidency wants the bloc's existing military framework to have a new headquarters and each Member State to commit 1,500 troops to rapid reaction forces, and this new UK position should considerably facilitate talks.
Aloys Rigaut, President of European Liberal Youth (LYMEC), reacted positively to the news: 'A majority of EU citizens support the idea of an EU army, including in the UK, and it is only time that we finally move ahead with this ambitious project', before adding: 'However let's think further. EU Member States have some 1.9 million soldiers, i.e. 50 percent more than the United States, yet the effectiveness of these armies is one-tenth of the U.S. military. We also have 27 armies, 27 airforces, 27 procurement agencies, etc. A common European military force would be much more efficient economically and effective militarily!'.
He then went on to stress: 'The question however remains of who would be politically responsible for the use of such an EU military force. We ask for the European Parliament to have full control over such use, and for the creation in the long-term of a genuine EU Government. The Lisbon Treaty is with this regard a step in the right direction, but further steps will be needed if we are serious about this political vision", and added: "It is also obvious that no Member State should be forced against its will to participate in specific military missions. The EU, as a multinational entity, is not the USA'. Note: the call for the creation of an EU Army is part of the LYMEC Manifesto (for reference, click here)
