Today’s European press – German one especially – widely covers the proposal by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker to create a European army, to, among other things, face up to Moscow’s threat. Several media – including Bloomberg Radio and Publico – quote Mr Juncker underlining that “a common European army would show Russia that the EU is determined to defend European values.” The Portuguese daily and Hotnews.ro add that, according to the EC President, a common armed force to all the EU-28 countries would reduce costs and would show the world there will never be a war between European countries again.
Mr Juncker told Die Welt on Sunday that NATO would not be enough to cope with the present threat from Russia, reports De Telegraaf. In the interview with Die Welt, the EC President further underlines that joint EU army would send important messages to the world, since it would show that there will be no war between European countries again. He added that the EU army would not be a rival to NATO, but just aimed to make the EU stronger, Bulgaria’s BNT and Darik News as well as Estonia media report. Irish website rte.ie quotes Mr Juncker, stressing that “Europe’s image has suffered dramatically and also in terms of foreign policy, we don’t seem to be taken entirely seriously.”
Bulgaria’s Sega Daily says that the proposal for creating an EU army was supported by former NATO Secretary General and former EU High Representative Javier Solana. The press reports about doubts on Mr Juncker’s idea. In a comment for Berliner Zeitung, Peter Riesbeck believes that, while this suggestion “is so old that it is almost charming,” it will likely face significant challenges from national particularities with regards to how national forces can be deployed in times of military crisis. Mr Riesbeck points out in that sense that it is highly doubtful whether German MPs would ever transfer jurisdiction over the German armed forces to the European Parliament. Mr Juncker’s proposal is “sensible” but not at all realistic, stresses the author.
In a commentary in Die Welt, Michael Stürmer says that, according to the EC President, the initiative is both an answer to the recent Russian aggression in Ukraine and a measure to counter American tendencies to withdraw troops from Europe. Mr Stürmer considers that, instead of “grand gestures,” Europe should “honour its pledges” and increase its military expenditures, as “anything that seeks to destroy NATO is a threat”. An article of The Guardian makes clear that Mr Juncker’s proposal was “immediately rejected” by the UK government. “Our position is crystal clear that defence is a national – not an EU – responsibility and that there is no prospect of that position changing and no prospect of a European army,” said a UK government spokesman.
The proposal of Mr Juncker for a joint European army is nothing new, writes Der Standard’s Josef Kirchengast. In 2009, the European Parliament last advocated an integrated European army of 60,000 soldiers that is to be ready for missions at all times. Finland’s HS reports today that President Sauli Niinistö is strongly in favour of developing the idea of a common EU army. In a positive tone, Handesblatt’s Mathias Brüggmann believes that the creation of European armed forces based on unity, the rule of law and freedom would be a huge step in the direction of a “United States of Europe,” as the continent remains a “patchwork carpet of national jurisdictions” with regards to its armed forces. According to Mr Brüggmann, the external threat generated by Moscow could provide the necessary impetus to both the EU and NATO, saying that Vladimir Putin is the “involuntary father of European unity” despite his intentions to divide the EU.
In an interview granted to Deutschlandfunk, German Federal Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen stated that “a European army is the future”. Meanwhile, other news on foreign affairs matters focused on Iranian nuclear talks, Friday’s attack terrorist in Mali and Syria’s situation. US President Barack Obama appeared on TV on Sunday to reassure his allies, worried about the risks of a toned down agreement, says Libération. “If we cannot verify that they will not obtain a nuclear weapon, that we will have enough time to react during a transition period, even if they trick us, if we do not have this kind of securities, we will not accept an agreement”, said Mr Obama.
A good deal is at hand in negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, EU HR Vice-President Federica Mogherini said on Friday, Croatia’s Jutarnji list and Tportal reported. “This is something we have to pass as a message to all our friends and partners,” she said in apparent reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism of the nuclear deal under negotiation. Libération further reports that French 30-year old Fabien Guyomard and Ronny Piens, a Belgian national working in Mali as a security officer for the EU are among Friday’s victims. La Croix’s editorial notes that the “first attack against Westerners in Mali’s capital” was a way for its perpetrators to let the West know that neither the 10,000 UN military or policemen deployed as part of the Minusca mission nor the 3,000 French military conducting the Barkane operation will “prevent them from striking where and when they want to”, adds the daily.
After the terrorist attack, Donald Tusk vowed that the EU will remain steady in its fight against terrorism, as reported by the author on Spiegel Online. Along the same lines, Greek media say that Ms Mogherini stressed that this terrorist act further strengthens EU’s commitment to help in countering terrorism in the region. ©europeanunion2015
