EU Commission head calls for creating 'EU army'

BERLIN

European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker wants an "EU army" in order to solve problems within the European Union and to combat external threats. 

Speaking to German weekly newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Juncker said an EU army would demonstrate to the world that there would be "no more war" between European countries. 

"The EU army would help us form a joint domestic and security policy against external threats and would help the EU fulfill its responsibilities to the world," said Juncker. 

Pointing that the Ukraine crisis created a need for the EU army, Juncker said, "Europe can react more reliably to threats against peace regarding its members or neighbors with its own army." 

Juncker also said that a joint EU army would provide savings to EU member countries so they can buy military equipment.

Responding to a question on whether Russia would have abandoned its annexation of Crimea if an EU army had been present, Juncker said that military responses are always wrong and demonstrate diplomatic and political failure. 

"You cannot immediately use the EU army (to solve the crisis), but a joint EU army would provide the influence on Russia needed to protect EU values," said Juncker.