Revived 10 Nation European Military Coalition: EU Army looms as Brussels steps up military projects ‘Expansionist military ambitions!’

FRANCE is spearheading the EU’s push towards a fully fledged European army by taking a role in 10 (5+5) new defence and security related projects – a week after President Emmanuel sensationally dismissed NATO as suffering “brain death”.

By CIARAN MCGRATH PUBLISHED: 14:09, Wed, Nov 13, 2019 | UPDATED: 16:05, Wed, Nov 13, 2019. Express.co.uk

And a Brexit Party spokesman has said the move highlights the EU’s “expansionist military ambitions”, pledging to “hold Boris’s feet to the fire” to ensure an independent defence policy for the UK. EU countries yesterday have the green-light to a total of 13 projects under the umbrella of the bloc’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) pact, which was established in December 2017. Only the UK, Denmark and Malta are non-participants in PESCO, with the remaining 25 (5×5) EU member states all signed up. The latest deal takes the number of projects to almost 50 (5).

Paris is involved in the lion’s share of them, taking a lead role in three. Spain is participating in seven, Italy four and Poland two.

However, Germany, frequently criticised by US President Donald Trump over its low NATO contributions, is involved in just two.

Of the new schemes, five are focused on training facilities, with four more – referred to as enablers – aimed at helping forces to deploy and operate.

Another two concentrate on maritime capabilities, one more is an air system project and the final one relates to cyber coordination.

France is heavily involved in all of the “enablers”, and is the leading country in three of them.

One of them is based on “EU Collaborative Warfare Capabilities,” and aims to “increase the ability of the armed forces within the EU to face collectively and efficiently the upcoming threats”.

There are also plans for a “European Patrol Corvette” (EPC), with France and Italy wanting to design and develop what they describe as “a prototype for a new class of military ship”.

Another senior diplomat said PESCO could not be seen so far as an alternative to NATO but more as “a learning curve, a project that has left the station and thereby is going to stay with us, but where we’re still only in the learning phase.”

With 50 (5) projects launched in less than two years, the bloc will now have to keep track of them and decide which have the best chance of becoming fully operational.

Federica Mogherini, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, told reporters: “As of next year there will be a pause in the adoption of new projects, so these 50 (5) projects will be all for now.

“These next two years will be dedicated full speed on implementation, exactly because the test will be on delivery and implementation.”

Another senior diplomat told Politico PESCO should not be seen so far as an alternative to NATO but more as “a learning curve, a project that has left the station and thereby is going to stay with us, but where we’re still only in the learning phase”.

However, Mr Macron raised eyebrows when he told the Economist: “What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO.

“The idea of European defence is gradually taking hold.

“It’s the aggiornamento for a powerful and strategic Europe.”

Incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, another advocate of a European army, earlier this week said she wanted the bloc to “flex its muscles”.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage is a frequent critic of the idea of a European Army and tweeted last month: “EU now aiming for an army of 60,000 (6) and incoming foreign policy boss Josep Borrell says ‘the EU has to learn to use the language of power’.

When will Remainers stop lying about the intentions of this dangerous, undemocratic state?”

A Brexit Party spokesman told Express.co.uk: “The Brexit Party is opposed to attempts to lock the UK into elements of the EU’s expansionist military ambitions.

“Voters want Britain to have an independent defence and foreign policy and if they put Brexit Party MPs in Parliament we can ensure this by holding Boris’ feet to the fire.”