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Donald Trump's election as US President has sparked fresh call for an EU army, amid a warning that the continent will not always be able to rely on American protection.
The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, voiced his concerns after the Republican's surprise victory was announced.
He said a 'community of defence' is required.
Juncker said: 'We need more security in Europe, and I do not mean just the anti-terror fight.
'Talking about security we need a different way of organizing a European defense.'
He said that the French National Assembly prevented a proposed European community of defence being created in 1954 - a move that could have seen an army created, but was rejected amid concerns about national sovereignty.
Juncker said: 'We need it now. The idea that the Americans will eternally see to... European security is not true.
'Independent of the outcome of the US election, the Americans will not see to Europe’s security forever. We have to do it ourselves.
'And this is why we need a new approach to the European community of defense, including a European army.'
In July, Trump cast doubts over his commitment to Nato agreements, telling the New York Times: 'We have many Nato members that aren’t paying their bills.'
And he added: 'You can’t forget the bills. They have an obligation to make payments.
'Many NATO nations are not making payments, are not making what they’re supposed to make. That’s a big thing. You can’t say forget that.'
His comments echo remarks made by German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, who has called on the EU should match Nato.
She declared she was in 'deep shock' after Trump's win, saying the President-elect has cast doubt on Nato's mutual defence pact.
Mrs von der Layen said the continent must now be prepared to stand for itself in security matters.
Last week she said: 'We have seen an enormous modernisation drive by Nato over the past three years because of the Kremlin’s behaviour.
‘That was correct and important, but I believe that we must invest at least the same energy into a modernisation of the European security and defence union.’
However, she claimed the increase should occur ‘knowing that one cannot build up competition between the two bodies, but that they should work in a complementary fashion’.
For instance, she said, the EU had a clear mission in working with Africa to stem the steady flow of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon rubbished the idea of a shared European army last month, stating: 'We continue to oppose any new military structure that would introduce a second layer of command and control. Command and control is a matter for the military, it is a matter for Nato.
‘When it was last discussed by EU defence ministers, there was very strong opposition to any kind of EU military command headquarters from Sweden, Poland, the Baltic states, even from the Netherlands, which is sometimes sympathetic to some of these EU proposals, they very strongly opposed that kind of duplication.
‘So this is not simply Britain, there is widespread EU concern about any duplication.’
The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, voiced his concerns after the Republican's surprise victory was announced.
He said a 'community of defence' is required.
Juncker said: 'We need more security in Europe, and I do not mean just the anti-terror fight.
'Talking about security we need a different way of organizing a European defense.'
He said that the French National Assembly prevented a proposed European community of defence being created in 1954 - a move that could have seen an army created, but was rejected amid concerns about national sovereignty.
Juncker said: 'We need it now. The idea that the Americans will eternally see to... European security is not true.
'Independent of the outcome of the US election, the Americans will not see to Europe’s security forever. We have to do it ourselves.
'And this is why we need a new approach to the European community of defense, including a European army.'
In July, Trump cast doubts over his commitment to Nato agreements, telling the New York Times: 'We have many Nato members that aren’t paying their bills.'
And he added: 'You can’t forget the bills. They have an obligation to make payments.
'Many NATO nations are not making payments, are not making what they’re supposed to make. That’s a big thing. You can’t say forget that.'
His comments echo remarks made by German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, who has called on the EU should match Nato.
She declared she was in 'deep shock' after Trump's win, saying the President-elect has cast doubt on Nato's mutual defence pact.
Mrs von der Layen said the continent must now be prepared to stand for itself in security matters.
Last week she said: 'We have seen an enormous modernisation drive by Nato over the past three years because of the Kremlin’s behaviour.
‘That was correct and important, but I believe that we must invest at least the same energy into a modernisation of the European security and defence union.’
However, she claimed the increase should occur ‘knowing that one cannot build up competition between the two bodies, but that they should work in a complementary fashion’.
For instance, she said, the EU had a clear mission in working with Africa to stem the steady flow of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon rubbished the idea of a shared European army last month, stating: 'We continue to oppose any new military structure that would introduce a second layer of command and control. Command and control is a matter for the military, it is a matter for Nato.
‘When it was last discussed by EU defence ministers, there was very strong opposition to any kind of EU military command headquarters from Sweden, Poland, the Baltic states, even from the Netherlands, which is sometimes sympathetic to some of these EU proposals, they very strongly opposed that kind of duplication.
‘So this is not simply Britain, there is widespread EU concern about any duplication.’
