There are currently six military EU Common Security and Defence Policy operations and ten civilian missions, involving some 5,000 forces deployed internationally.

Joseph Borrell, the newly appointed (not elected) High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has just set the goal of expanding this to an EU-flagged force of 60,000. He recently told MEPs: “We have the instruments to play power politics. The EU has to learn to use the language of power.”

The EU’s military capabilities are slowly but inexorably growing, its intent is clear, its direction is, as ever, towards a single federal EU state.

Will Podmore

Clavering Road, Wanstead