EU army? Much ado about nothing

Media sources reported in September 2016 on the prospects of the creation of an 'EU army', as different member states stated their plans to propose increased military cooperation to increase the EU's 'defence capacity'.

Following the desire expressed by the Visegrad Group on the creation of a European army, media also reported on a proposal from Germany and France to deepen European military cooperation.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Policy or Project? France, Germany, and EU Defense http://www.europeansources.info/record/policy-or-project-france-germany-and-eu-defense/

ESO: Background information: Is the EU anywhere near getting its own army? http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-the-eu-anywhere-near-getting-its-own-army/

EurActiv: Topic: EU Army http://www.euractiv.com/topics/eu-army/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 06.09.16: The Insincere Calls for a European Army http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=64483

BBC News, 26.08.16: Czechs and Hungarians call for EU army amid security worries http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37196802

The Telegraph, 06.09.16: Europe forges ahead with plans for 'EU army' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/06/europe-forges-ahead-with-plans-for-eu-army/

Full Fact: Europe: A Federal Europe: The hunt for an EU army https://fullfact.org/europe/hunt-eu-army/

The Guardian, 08.09.16: EU reveals plans for military cooperation following Brexit vote https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/08/european-union-plans-military-battlegroups-after-brexit-vote

EurActiv, 08.09.16: German minister, in Lithuania, backs European ‘defence union’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/german-minister-in-lithuania-backs-european-defence-union/

The Local.fr, 10.09.16: France and Germany to relaunch EU defence http://www.thelocal.fr/20160910/france-and-germany-plan-more-active-eu-defence

Spiegel Online International, 01.09.16: [Opinion]: German Caution, French Decisiveness. How Brexit Affects EU Defence Policy http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/jean-marie-guehenno-on-european-defense-after-brexit-a-1110352.html

EUObserver, 12.09.16: EU joint defence to focus on south https://euobserver.com/foreign/135041

EUObserver, 12.09.16: France and Germany propose EU 'defence union' https://euobserver.com/foreign/135022

The Guardian, 10.09.16: Post-Brexit vote, France and Germany plan ‘more active’ EU defence https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/10/france-and-germany-plan-more-active-european-union-defence

BBC News, 09.09.16: Brexit vote revives dream of EU army http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37317765

Politico, 12.09.16: Berlin and Paris push for EU security reforms http://www.politico.eu/article/berlin-and-paris-defense-ministers-push-for-eu-security-reforms/

ESO: Background information: Europe of Defence? Views on the future of defence cooperation http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-of-defence-views-on-the-future-of-defence-cooperation/

ESO: Background information: The EU Global Strategy and Defence: Ambitious but Credible? http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-global-strategy-and-defence-ambitious-but-credible/

Italy: Ministry of Defence: Highlights, 09.08.16: A 'Schengen of Defence' to respond to terrorism http://www.difesa.it/EN/Primo_Piano/Pagine/gent.aspx

Politico, 15.09.16: [Opinion]: EU needs ‘Schengen for defense’ http://www.politico.eu/article/italian-foreign-minister-eu-needs-schengen-for-defense-paolo-gentiloni-islamic-state-migrants-security/

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