Hendrik and Annette Jacob believe that an EU Army is necessary to defend Europe against Russian aggression (Image: Phil Harris)
Germans are divided on whether a proposed ‘European Army’ is a good idea for the country.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Munich Security Conference that with the USA more reluctant to support its Western allies alternative transcontinental defence measures must be sought.
“I really believe that the time has come that the armed forces of Europe must be created,” Zelenskyy said.
“Let’s be honest, now we can’t rule out that America might say ‘no’ to Europe on issues that might threaten it.”
Calls for an EU army pre-date ’s full-scale invasion of and were gaining momentum during ’s first presidency when the US leader was threatening to pull out of the NATO military alliance.
In 2018, former German president Angela Merkel joined her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in backing the idea of setting up a continental military telling an EU congress it would “show the world that there would never again be war in Europe.”
However, during a reporting trip to Germany the Express found years of war in had failed to sway those living in the EU’s biggest economy on the issue.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Munich Security Conference it was ‘time for an EU army’ (Image: Getty)
Germans are divided on whether a proposed ‘European Army’ is a good idea for the country.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Munich Security Conference that with the USA more reluctant to support its Western allies alternative transcontinental defence resources must be developed.
“I really believe that the time has come that the armed forces of Europe must be created,” Zelenskyy said.
“Let’s be honest, now we can’t rule out that America might say ‘no’ to Europe on issues that might threaten it.”
Calls for an EU army pre-date ’s full-scale invasion of and were gaining momentum during ’s first presidency when the US leader was threatening to pull out of the NATO military alliance.
In 2018, former German president Angela Merkel joined her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in backing the idea of setting up a continental military telling an EU congress it would “show the world that there would never again be war in Europe.”
However, during a reporting trip to Germany the Express found years of war in had failed to sway those living in the EU’s biggest economy on the issue.
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Amadeus and Sophia K thought proposals for a European military were ‘crazy’ (Image: Phil Harris)
However, another couple from the same area Annette and Hendrik Jacob, who grew up during the height of the Cold War, had the opposite view.
“We support a European army,” Hendrik told the Express, “it’s a good idea, but Germany got rid of national service a few years ago, and I don’t think the youth will be up for it.
“The question is who’s actually going to defend us if it gets serious [and the conflict in spreads to Europe]? might come all the way [to Germany].
“I lived in East Germany during Communism, I thought the Cold War was over after the Wolf Berlin Wall fell. But it doesn’t look like it anymore.”
Last year a report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change a “joint UK-EU defence capability” in order to help the continent compete with the unilateral power of countries like and the USA.
But any progress between European countries towards establishing a joint force has floundered since Macron and Merkel endorsed the plan.
In March 2024, vice-president of the European Commission Josep Borrell said that “ and stressed the importance of better collaboration among the 27 member states.