MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The creation of the European Union army is not discussed in EU circles and no steps have been taken in this respect, an EU official told Sputnik on Tuesday.
On Sunday, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that the European Union needed its own armed forces to "fulfill" its mission in the world. He added that it was not absolutely necessary to be a NATO member state to participate in the proposed European army, which could be not of an offensive nature.
"No steps have been taken to create an EU army, it's not on the table. It's member states' competence, not EU competence," the official said.
In March 2015, Juncker said that the European Union should create its own unified army to respond to threats faced by both EU member states and neighboring countries.
The idea of such an army has been repeatedly criticized by NATO officials, as well as by the UK authorities, who claimed that London would veto the move, which was prior to the British voters deciding to leave the 28-nation bloc on June 23.
