Military of the European Union

Under the heading European Army runs a discussion on the establishment of a defensive alliance of European countries, similar to the model of NATO, or to establish a pan-European forces, which could then be placed under a European Defence. First impetus to the debate was the French Prime Minister René Pleven at the beginning of the 1950s. Since the beginning of 2000 will be discussed again on the subject.

Benefits

The ( partial) unification of the Armed Forces of the EU countries would increase efficiency. The number of soldiers of all EU countries accounts for approximately 150 % of Manpower of the U.S. Army with 1.9 million. The cost is a total of 160 billion euros.

Votes against

Above all, the U.S. was in 2003 against a European army, the governments of Britain and America faithful of Spain under Aznar have also spoken out in 2003 against such an army.

Even left-wing groups had indirectly rejected a European army, as they during the referenda on the EU Constitution, in their criticisms of the Treaty, inter alia, spearheaded, he was doing the militarization of the Union above.

History

After the outbreak of the Cold War, the Korean War in 1950, due to an acute fear of an attack by the Soviet Union, a European army was called with West German involvement in August 1950 by Winston Churchill, which should work with the United States. Churchill had already pronounced in March of the same year for a German defense contribution, so that the Consultative Assembly of the Council on August 11, 1950 advocated the formation of a European army with German contingents. In the U.S., the idea began while enforcing build a European defense force, under NATO command. For the first time spoke on September 11, 1950, the U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson for a common European army under German participation from.

Pleven Plan

The French Prime Minister René Pleven proposed in October 1950, specifically to create a European army under a European defense ministers or ministry. This should not be an alliance, but an army that consists of integrated on a unit level quotas. Each State should contribute to this army, but still must maintain its own associations. In November 1950, the Bundestag approved a German defense contribution on the basis of the Pleven plan by a vote of the governing parties. As a consequence of the Plan, the negotiations on the European Defence Community (EDC) dragged on four years. In August 1954, however, the French National Assembly adopted the Treaty on the ECG from the agenda so that the Pleven plan had failed.

Current attempts

In April 2003, representatives from Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg have taken to start in a summit, a new approach for the creation of a European army under the ESDP again. The case to be established Euro Corps could serve as a nucleus for a European intervention force, as in Kosovo, the European armies have already proven that they can work well together, better coordination would be desirable, however. Spain showed not interested, probably not to jeopardize the good relations with the United States. Germany put much emphasis on the participation of Great Britain, this said Elmar Brok ( CDU): " Disturbing is in this current political context that all four countries that were in the Iraq crisis in the anti - wing and it would contribute to contribute greater credibility if also one or the other country, which was in the other camp, would be there. " for the creation of a euro corps you would need funds from the European budget to pave the way this army.

In March 2007, said the German Chancellor and EU President Angela Merkel: " We need to get closer to a common European army. The EU Commission will be able to act, with clearly defined responsibilities. " In the Munich Security Conference on 6 February 2010 stressed the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that Europe needs a common army :" The European Union must take its political role as a global actor meet. You must be able to operate independently crisis management and they must be able to act swiftly, flexibly and to network. "

In addition, the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said: "A European army of 100,000 troops would significantly improve European defense readiness and strengthen NATO. In addition, an EU army would save costs because the inefficient allocation of the Union would finally overcome in national defense markets. "

Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen is according to a report by the news channel N-TV on 31 January 2014 the pooling and sharing of European armies, which they voted in favor of bundling and thus for a European army.

Armed forces and arrangements

Under the agreements, the common security and defense policy, a number of institutions was established. These include the Military Committee ( EUMC), the Military Staff (EUMS ) with the civilian / military cell, the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management, the European Defence Agency, satellite center of the European Union ( EUSC ) and the European Union Institute for Security Studies ( ISS). All States of the European Union to participate in the CSDP institutions (some with opt -ins and opt -outs from Norway Denmark). As forces this EU-wide agreement is at least 1,500 men strong rotating assignment of multinational organizations in the EU battle groups ready.

In addition there are a number of multi-national (not EU-wide ) Armed Forces:

• The Euro Corps forms with about 60,000 men the nucleus of a standing army. At the Franco-German Brigade brigades come from Germany, France, Belgium and Spain. Poland participates for training purposes with a brigade. Other states send personnel in the Korpstab and Support Brigade, currently Greece, Turkey, Poland, Italy, Romania, Austria and the United States.
• The EUFOR operations of the EUMS are subject to troops in the EUFOR Althea in Bosnia - Herzegovina, EUFOR Tchad / RCA in Chad and EUFOR RD Congo in the Congo.
• The EUROMARFOR was founded in 1995 by France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Greece and Turkey to send observers. In peacetime, the European Marine currently assigned to any troop contingents.
• The European Air Group were founded in 1995 as a Franco - British European Air Group ( FBEAG ) and expanded in 1997. Currently participate in the European air forces, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. In addition, their entry into the European air transport command in 2010, are currently involved in this, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
• The European Gendarmerie Force (EGF ) is the European Military Police, founded in 2006 by France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Romania participates, Poland and Lithuania are partners. Turkey sends observers. Germany has refused to participate ( in barracks police legally only at the country level and thus not comparable ).
• The 1st German - Netherlands Corps has evolved as the NATO Response Force, the brigade are other forces from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Denmark, Turkey and Norway. With other staff 12 countries are represented. The EU intervention force under stand in times of crisis more than 30,000 men, the man standing in 1200 were increased when taking over the nfor -4 Cycle 8500.