The president of Cidob and former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has stated this Saturday that the creation of a common army in the European Union would represent "a great step forward in political integration", also emphasizing that the current context favors moving in this direction.
This was stated during the opening of the conference 'War and Peace in the 21st Century. Defending Europe without the United States? The future of the European security', organized by Cidob at the Palau de Pedralbes, alongside the Minister of European Union and Foreign Action of the Generalitat, Jaume Duch. The event will feature the closing by the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the director of Cidob, Pol Morillas.
Borrell has framed his words in the debate about an eventual European army, after the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, pointed out on Friday that Spain is prepared to advance towards that integration. According to what he has pointed out, the idea has broad support among European citizens, although not so much among state leaders, who "know that the army is the last resort of sovereignty."
"Is defense the driving force as was the currency, the euro 20 years ago, or more than 20 years ago? That is the question", he expressed in relation to the future of the European project.
Regarding the role of the United States, Borrell has warned that NATO "has suffered an unprecedented internal weakening due to President Trump's aggressiveness with respect to some of its allies."
Likewise, he has alluded to conflicts such as the war in Iran and the Middle East, recalling precedents such as the invasion of Iraq in 2003, to underscore that the current position of President Donald Trump forces Europe to rethink its autonomy in defense matters.
"We have been living for a long time under the American umbrella. And some of us, some Europeans, would very much like to continue living under the American umbrella. As long as the umbrella is open", he concluded.
