Stupid mistake! France issues demand for EU to become military ‘superpow...

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said: “Afghanistan has shown that deficiencies in our strategic autonomy come with a price and that the only way forward is to combine our forces and strengthen not only our capacity but also our will to act.”

France and Germany back the concept, with Italy and Spain also in support of the formation of a 20,000 to 50,000-strong force that could act as a future EU army.

Previous plans for an EU army have been derailed by the need for unanimous support from all 27 governments.

The existing EU “battle groups”, agreed in 2007, have never been used because of the difficulties in securing unanimous decisions.

But Mr Borrell and other EU officials believe the Afghan crisis has helped to shift the debate.

There are some suggestions that supportive EU governments could forge ahead with plans on their own if not all 27 nations agree.

Not all EU capitals are expected to sign up to the rapid-reaction force with plans still highly controversial.

One EU diplomat told the Times: “Which leader is going to allow their nationals to be killed in the name of the EU? No one seriously entertains the idea the EU will ever he be able to replace the US.”