Forming a combined European Union army is the key to keeping the peace, says Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Speaking to Italian newspaper La Stampa, the leader of the Forza Italia party outlined his case for the move, which he believes could help prevent global conflicts.
“If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military. And this is a fundamental precondition to be able to have an effective European foreign policy,” he said.
“In a world with powerful players like the United States, China, India, Russia – with crises from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific – Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by something that already exists, namely the European Union.”
European defence cooperation has remained high on the political agenda ever since Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago.
The bold move would certainly alter the EU’s role in global diplomacy and security affairs.
Mr Tajani says that with increasing conflicts around the world, it is a necessity.
He also proposed streamlining leadership by moving towards a single presidency for the EU, which consists of 27 nations. This, he believes, would lead to more effective coordination and decision-making.
Mr Tajani became leader of Forza Italia following the death of Silvio Berlusconi last year.
Increasing European defense cooperation forms a large part of the party’s priorities as it argues that a combined EU military would both strengthen the EU’s position globally and bring cohesion among member states.
The idea of a European Army has long been touted – but not always been approved of by influential figures and lawmakers in the bloc.
Critics say that attempts to create a unified army in Europe has routinely been attempted but ultimately fall short of ever securing the relevant backing on the continent.
Among the critics included Geoffrey Van Orden, a former Conservative leader and defence spokesman in the European Parliament.
In an article for New Direction, he said in 2022: “Imagine if the fate of Ukraine had been left to the EU leadership in Brussels or the French or German governments with their ambivalent relationships with Moscow.
“Less than a month ago Berlin was refusing to send heavy armour to support the Ukrainians, while both France and Germany were found to have been supplying some £250million of military equipment to Russia.
“It has taken the example of the UK, along with front-line nations such as Poland and the Czech Republic, to set an example by providing desperately needed military aid to Ukraine.”
