Merkel Supports Proposal for European Army But Says it Remains Long Way Off

Angela Merkel is in favor of a "deeper military cooperation in Europe," government spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said, although no concrete plans have been made so far.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her support on Monday to a proposal for the creation of a Pan-European army.

Merkel is in favor of a "deeper military cooperation in Europe," government spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said.

But Wirtz emphasized that Berlin saw the proposal as a "future project" without any concrete plans for its near future.

Similarly, an official representative of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas said that the European Union does not have a particular plan of creating a European army so far but the topic may be raised at the EU summit in June.

Jean-Claude Juncker said Sunday that with such an armed force in place, the EU would be able to adequately respond to threats posed to both member states and neighboring countries.