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| Plans for closer EU military cooperation held until after vote | Plans for closer EU military cooperation held until after vote |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Plans for closer European military cooperation will not be released until after next month’s EU referendum, it has been claimed. | Plans for closer European military cooperation will not be released until after next month’s EU referendum, it has been claimed. |
| The plans, which outline new European military and operational structures that include a headquarters, have been drawn up by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini. | The plans, which outline new European military and operational structures that include a headquarters, have been drawn up by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini. |
| The Times reported that the proposals will not be seen by European leaders until a summit on 28 June – almost a week after the UK referendum. | The Times reported that the proposals will not be seen by European leaders until a summit on 28 June – almost a week after the UK referendum. |
| It is feared that doing so before the vote could boost the leave campaign. | It is feared that doing so before the vote could boost the leave campaign. |
| To keep the lid on the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy proposals, only a small number of diplomats are allowed to view the documents in a sealed room and must leave electronic devices outside, according to the report. | To keep the lid on the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy proposals, only a small number of diplomats are allowed to view the documents in a sealed room and must leave electronic devices outside, according to the report. |
| However, they are allowed to make handwritten notes, some of which the Times said it had seen. | However, they are allowed to make handwritten notes, some of which the Times said it had seen. |
| According to those notes, the proposals urged the EU to create defence structures under the provisions of the 2009 Lisbon treaty and based on the EU diplomatic service. | According to those notes, the proposals urged the EU to create defence structures under the provisions of the 2009 Lisbon treaty and based on the EU diplomatic service. |
| Similar moves five years ago towards what some described then as an “EU army” were vetoed by the UK. | Similar moves five years ago towards what some described then as an “EU army” were vetoed by the UK. |
| A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister has repeatedly made clear that the UK will never be a part of an EU army. We retain a veto on all defence matters in the EU and we will oppose any measures which would undermine member states’ military forces.” | A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister has repeatedly made clear that the UK will never be a part of an EU army. We retain a veto on all defence matters in the EU and we will oppose any measures which would undermine member states’ military forces.” |
| Related: Jean-Claude Juncker calls for EU army | |
| Early last year European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that the EU needed its own army to help the union be taken more seriously as an international force. | Early last year European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that the EU needed its own army to help the union be taken more seriously as an international force. |
| He said such a move would help the EU to stand up to Russian aggression. | He said such a move would help the EU to stand up to Russian aggression. |
| Juncker, who has long backed creating an EU army, said that such a move would be more cost-effective and encourage further European integration. | Juncker, who has long backed creating an EU army, said that such a move would be more cost-effective and encourage further European integration. |
| “Such an army would help us design a common foreign and security policy,” the former prime minister of Luxembourg said in a newspaper interview. | “Such an army would help us design a common foreign and security policy,” the former prime minister of Luxembourg said in a newspaper interview. |
| The idea was rejected by Downing Street at the time. | The idea was rejected by Downing Street at the time. |