[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It has been argued by Remainers that the existence of the EU has actually helped to prevent war as it would be very difficult to declare war on a fellow member!

Not sure what I think of the idea of an EU army, would this involve a new army being created and paid for by member states or would the existing armies of each country be transferred over to working for the EU? Would this be full or part time (like footballers working for their own club and playing for England). Would the EU have the final say over our troops?

Would the idea of having extra troops at our disposal make us safer? What are the main concerns of those who oppose this idea? Would it only be used to protect member states from outside forces or could it be used for situations like Iraq?

A federal army only works if, like the USA, it has a federal chain of command.

If the EU makes this army before it politically federalises (like they did with the Euro), there will be the risk of 27 countries (or 28 if we remain) having different interests to protect.

Also, if we remain and eschew 'ever closer union' then we would also eschew being within the EU army structure; or would we? It would be a mess whether or not we remain.

I believe that the peace was kept not because of the EU but because of the sheer horror of what preceded it and the lack of need to go to war. I suppose it could be argued that the EEC (not the EU, though) provided a peaceable platform and I support that. It is the morph into the EU to which I object and particularly how Germany is top dog and their running dog, the French government, is tagging onto Germany's tail with a bark louder than their bite.