“I welcome greater EU efforts in defense, as long as they do not duplicate or compete. What the EU should not do is start building alternative defense structures, like intervention forces,” he said, referring to the planned deployment of a 5,000-strong EU military contingent. […]
“If Europe is attacked, people need to immediately know who is in charge of responding. Competing structures create uncertainty… which only helps the enemy,” said one of the publication’s sources.
NATO is particularly concerned about the proposed expansion of the EU Military Staff, the body overseeing the EU’s military missions.
Officials said this plan could complicate the critical command system in the event of a conflict and also draw personnel away from NATO’s command structure, which is already understaffed. Läs artikel