Defence Secretary Michael Fallon vows to block plan to create EU army
Sir Michael said Nato must remain 'the cornerstone of our defence' in Europe
THE Defence Secretary has vowed to block the creation of an EU army as it risks undermining Nato.
Sir Michael Fallon used a trip to the continent to say the historic alliance “must remain the cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe".
But France and Germany demanded an increase in military co-operation at a meeting of defence chiefs in Slovakia.
Speaking in Bratislava, Sir Michael warned: "There is no majority here for an EU army.
"There are a number of other countries who believe with us that that cuts across the sovereignty of individual nation states."
He added: "We agree that Europe needs to do more, it's facing terrorism, it's facing migration, but simply duplicating or undermining Nato is the wrong way to do it."
"But we're going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army, or an EU army headquarters which would simply undermine Nato.
"Nato must remain the cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe."
Loathed EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker floated the idea a Euro-army in 2015.
But Britain is already a central player in the 28 nation strong North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military alliance.