A bunch of chickens better than EU armies, says Juncker,calls again for common EU Army

[flamer84]

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker called again today for the bloc to build an army, saying a flock of hens posed more of a threat than its current military capabilities.
“A bunch of chickens looks like a combat formation compared to the foreign and security policy of the European Union,'' Juncker told a Brussels forum in typically lively language.
“I always call for a European army as a long-term project. It is not something you can build from scratch tomorrow morning,'' he said.
Juncker has consistently backed the idea that the EU's 28 member nations should accept a military arm, a need highlighted by the Ukraine crisis.
“A common army among the Europeans would convey to Russia that we are serious about defending the values of the European Union,'' he told Germany's Welt am Sonntag in March.
A joint EU force would also rationalize defense spending and drive further EU integration.
Juncker told the forum that considering the current fragmented state of EU military readiness, it was perfectly “right that central and eastern European countries put their trust primarily in NATO.''
“The 28 armies are just not up to it,'' he added

A bunch of chickens better than EU armies, says Juncker - The Standard

 

[Indian Patriot]

EU common army cannot function for the simple reason there already is NATO. It would be duplication of work and cause confusion and chaos.

 

[Echo_419]

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker called again today for the bloc to build an army, saying a flock of hens posed more of a threat than its current military capabilities.
“A bunch of chickens looks like a combat formation compared to the foreign and security policy of the European Union,'' Juncker told a Brussels forum in typically lively language.
“I always call for a European army as a long-term project. It is not something you can build from scratch tomorrow morning,'' he said.
Juncker has consistently backed the idea that the EU's 28 member nations should accept a military arm, a need highlighted by the Ukraine crisis.
“A common army among the Europeans would convey to Russia that we are serious about defending the values of the European Union,'' he told Germany's Welt am Sonntag in March.
A joint EU force would also rationalize defense spending and drive further EU integration.
Juncker told the forum that considering the current fragmented state of EU military readiness, it was perfectly “right that central and eastern European countries put their trust primarily in NATO.''
“The 28 armies are just not up to it,'' he added

A bunch of chickens better than EU armies, says Juncker - The Standard

They are surely not that bad bit if they are further starved of funds God help then

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Why would UK/France/Germany want to fight against Russia for some country in Eastern Europe?

If they wanted to do that, they already had the opportunity when Russia annexed Crimea.

 

[Audio]

Why would UK/France/Germany want to fight against Russia for some country in Eastern Europe?

If they wanted to do that, they already had the opportunity when Russia annexed Crimea.

Displaying the lack of strategic vision your are famous for again?

 

[Transhumanist]

Why would UK/France/Germany want to fight against Russia for some country in Eastern Europe?

Because the time after that they'll be fighting against Russia in Poland instead. It's a bit too close for comfort to have Russia causing problems in Eastern European nations.

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker called again today for the bloc to build an army, saying a flock of hens posed more of a threat than its current military capabilities.
“A bunch of chickens looks like a combat formation compared to the foreign and security policy of the European Union,'' Juncker told a Brussels forum in typically lively language.
“I always call for a European army as a long-term project. It is not something you can build from scratch tomorrow morning,'' he said.
Juncker has consistently backed the idea that the EU's 28 member nations should accept a military arm, a need highlighted by the Ukraine crisis.
“A common army among the Europeans would convey to Russia that we are serious about defending the values of the European Union,'' he told Germany's Welt am Sonntag in March.
A joint EU force would also rationalize defense spending and drive further EU integration.
Juncker told the forum that considering the current fragmented state of EU military readiness, it was perfectly “right that central and eastern European countries put their trust primarily in NATO.''
“The 28 armies are just not up to it,'' he added

A bunch of chickens better than EU armies, says Juncker - The Standard

A new force or an augment/replacement to the existing EU Battlegroup concept. A formal EU-wide military already exists in the form of contributing battle-groups, such as the NBG (comprised of Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Estonia), so I'm wondering what the proposal offers that the current dynamic doesn't.

EU Battlegroup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My guess is that this new proposal would be a larger, better funded and integrated force, especially as the EU battlegroup is rather poor in terms of size - being only 18 battalions total.

Seems to be a good idea though, Europe has to get serious on collective defense and lessen its reliance on the Americans.

 

[flamer84]

Displaying the lack of strategic vision your are famous for again?

I'm surprised he didn't brought up the nuclear arguement like his kind always does.We all know that nobody wants to get nuked for a Eastern European country and that Russia is going to take that bet because she's immune to nukes,obviously.

Because the time after that they'll be fighting against Russia in Poland instead. It's a bit too close for comfort to have Russia causing problems in Eastern European nations.



A new force or an augment/replacement to the existing EU Battlegroup concept. A formal EU-wide military already exists in the form of contributing battle-groups, such as the NBG (comprised of Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Estonia), so I'm wondering what the proposal offers that the current dynamic doesn't.

EU Battlegroup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My guess is that this new proposal would be a larger, better funded and integrated force, especially as the EU battlegroup is rather poor in terms of size - being only 18 battalions total.

Seems to be a good idea though, Europe has to get serious on collective defense and lessen its reliance on the Americans.

I think he's arguing for a common EU Army instead of national armies but that will come only if the EU becomes the USE and that's a long shot.

 

[atatwolf]

I wouldn't say bunch of chickens but a bunch a different animals that I don't want to name which will never form any kind of unitary army. It is simply a dream.

 

[Ceonwulf]

Only France and UK have serious armed forces left in Europe. The rest are very weak with little capability.

I see no reason why France or UK should join an EU military.

I'm surprised he didn't brought up the nuclear arguement like his kind always does.We all know that nobody wants to get nuked for a Eastern European country and that Russia is going to take that bet because she's immune to nukes,obviously.




I think he's arguing for a common EU Army instead of national armies but that will come only if the EU becomes the USE and that's a long shot.

Russia is not immune to nukes. A single nuke on Moscow and St Petersburg and Russia is finished.

Same with any country, nuke their cities and it is game over back to the Dark Ages. It will take at least 100 years before one can rebuild.

 

[Transhumanist]

Only France and UK have serious armed forces left in Europe. The rest are very weak with little capability.

And it's that kind of misconception that is the reason a thread like this exists:

Nordic Defense News, pictures, videos and history | Page 17

Sweden and Norway are very capable military powers who can hold their own against a large power (they also act as an integrated unit), and if necessary Sweden can go nuclear too - it's a nuclear latent nation, like Japan and Turkey.

 

[Indian Patriot]

Europe/NATO ain't got the balls to mess with Russia. A war with Russia won't be some obscure border skirmish, it will be WAR with cities on both sides getting bombed. Small fry in the NATO like holland would want to avoid that.

 

[flamer84]

Only France and UK have serious armed forces left in Europe. The rest are very weak with little capability.

I see no reason why France or UK should join an EU military.



Russia is not immune to nukes. A single nuke on Moscow and St Petersburg and Russia is finished.

Same with any country, nuke their cities and it is game over back to the Dark Ages. It will take at least 100 years before one can rebuild.

I know Russia isn't immune to nukes,i was being sarcastic because people always argue that nobody will fight for Eastern European countries and risk getting nuked by Russia like the opposite couldn't be true:as in why would Russia risk getting nuked in return for some Eastern Euro countries that are now EU,NATO members.

Well,yes,the UK and France are the best militaries in the EU but taken together ,the rest bring something to the table to.

Military of the European Union - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Steve781]

And it's that kind of misconception that is the reason a thread like this exists:

Nordic Defense News, pictures, videos and history | Page 17

Sweden and Norway are very capable military powers who can hold their own against a large power (they also act as an integrated unit), and if necessary Sweden can go nuclear too - it's a nuclear latent nation, like Japan and Turkey.

Norway isn't an EU member though. How would you fit into this? Would you just try and become an honorary member like Sweden is in NATO?

 

[Armstrong]

Why would UK/France/Germany want to fight against Russia for some country in Eastern Europe?

If they wanted to do that, they already had the opportunity when Russia annexed Crimea.

They won't - Ukraine and Georgia before that is testament to that !

The best they'd do is to impose sanctions on Russia if Russia steps out of line; that'll send the Russian Economy crashing but because European Economies are so intertwined with each other (even outside the EU) the reverberations of it would be felt in Western Europe as well and sooner or later UK, France and Germany would want the sanctions to mellow down a bit !

So it all boils down to whether Putin is a mad man or not and can he be less aggressive and more smart in increasing Russia's sphere of influence or not ?

And whether the Russians are willing to take increasing hits to their Economy or not ?

 

[Ceonwulf]

They won't - Ukraine and Georgia before that is testament to that !

The best they'd do is to impose sanctions on Russia if Russia steps out of line; that'll send the Russian Economy crashing but because European Economies are so intertwined with each other (even outside the EU) the reverberations of it would be felt in Western Europe as well and sooner or later UK, France and Germany would want the sanctions to mellow down a bit !

So it all boils down to whether Putin is a mad man or not and can he be less aggressive and more smart in increasing Russia's sphere of influence or not ?

And whether the Russians are willing to take increasing hits to their Economy or not ?

US and EU sanctions are already crippling Russia. The Russian economy is predicted to fall to only 1.1 trillion this year due to ruble crash and GDP contraction of -4.7%.

Meanwhile EU economy is 18+ trillion and USA economy is 17+ trillion.

Russia doesn't stand a chance against the economic might of USA and EU.