Advertisement

Juncker scoffs at furore over 'European army' remark

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker made light on Monday of intense debate sparked by his comment a week ago that he favoured establishing a "European army". Asked about the comment, he told a conference: "I didn't want to launch a debate. Had this been my strategy, I would have been very proud of it." He said he had simply responded in the affirmative when a German newspaper interviewer asked if he favoured a European army. But he stressed this was only a very long-term prospect. The idea faces particular resistance from Britain, which with France is one of the bloc's two main military powers. "We need a European army," Juncker told the conference organised by the Friends of Europe and Jacques Delors Institute. He said such a body was required to defend the EU's goals and principles, but that this was not a short-term goal. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Kevin Liffey)