European security

EU army? New security strategy says bloc should ‘go beyond NATO’

The EU should develop military autonomy from NATO and take a stronger role on the global stage as it must be able to “repel, to respond and to protect,” a new EU security strategy says, encouraging closer military cooperation within the union.

The EU cannot any longer rely on NATO on various security issues and must instead develop an ability to “act autonomously if and when necessary,” a document named European Union Global Strategy says as it outlines new foreign policy and security proposals for the EU.

“As Europeans we must take greater responsibility for our security. We must be ready and able to deter, respond to and protect ourselves against external threats,” the paper, drafted by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, says.

“While NATO exists to defend its members — most of which are European — from external attack, Europeans must be better equipped, trained and organized to contribute decisively to such collective efforts, as well as to act autonomously if and when necessary,” it adds.