Miliband proposes a European army

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

In a speech setting out his vision for the union over the next 20 years, the Foreign Secretary said it should be ready to use its collective clout on the world stage.

Mr Miliband insisted he was not proposing a Europe-wide superstate. But he said the EU should be prepared to use the "hard power" of "sanctions and troops" to bring about change in places such as Darfur.

The Foreign Secretary called for a review of the bloc's defence capabilities "to set out the challenge we face; and identify targets for the investment in equipment, research, development, and training necessary to make more of our armed forces". The EU has a rapid reaction-force, but Mr Miliband's comments go much further and raise the prospect of a European army to rival that of Nato.

Mr Miliband was speaking at the College of Bruges in Belgium, where Baroness Thatcher set out her Eurosceptic agenda two decades ago.

He also raised the prospect of expanding the single market, but not EU membership, to countries such as Tunisia and Lebanon; and underscored Britain's view that Turkey should be brought into the EU fold.

Mr Miliband said the organisation should draw on "the power of Europe as an idea and model ... to do those things to provide security and prosperity for the next generation of Europeans."