EU Defense: Where Political Opportunity Meets Strategic Necessity
Author(s): Daniel Keohane
Journal Title: Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe Blog
Publication Year: 2016
Since Britain voted on June 23 to leave the EU, it seems everyone has an idea for strengthening European defense. The cacophony of calls in the last month alone has included an Italian proposal for a “Schengen of defense,” a reference to the EU’s passport-free travel zone; a Visegrád Four appeal from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia for a “European army”; and a Weimar triangle declaration from France, Germany, and Poland on the need for more effective EU security and defense policies.