In the run up to last year's EU Referendum, The Independent published an article suggesting an EU Army is the solution to all of Britain's problems. The idea was dismissed by the Remain camp as an example of Leave "lies" whilst the EU hid its plans from the British public to lull them into a false sense of security.

"These assertions are patronising to the European countries that have managed for centuries without a single European army"

However, The Independent suggested this would be the answer to the UK's inability to manage its own conflicts.

They said an EU Army would have prevented Britain from being dragged into the 2001 War on Terror and the 2003 Iraq War at the United States' request. The newspaper claimed a European Defence Union would enable Europe to stand up to America and prevent individual member states from being dragged into unnecessary conflicts. They also highlighted France's management of the Mali war as an example of an individual country's inability to manage conflicts. These assertions are patronising to the European countries that have managed for centuries without a single European army.

Plans for an EU Army were being created by Federica Mogherini, Brussels' chief of foreign affairs and security policy, prior to the EU Referendum.

They aimed to establish a joint military headquarters which will manage military assets provided by member states. Jean-Claude Juncker believes it is the only way for the trading bloc to be taken seriously as a military force.

These plans would cause the EU to become a direct threat to NATO, which is partly why they are so dangerous.

Because NATO is dependent upon member states' resources, it cannot summon them when they need to deter President Putin. Instead, they would be centralised in Brussels, and the Belgian capital would prove inadequate in pulling together resources from across 28 member states.

"This would divide the West and benefit Vladimir Putin"

Lord Owen warned before the EU Referendum an EU Army would clash with NATO operations. This would divide the West and benefit Vladimir Putin, who could then fulfill his ambition of conquering Eastern European states.

An EU Army is not in Europe's best interests and it is time the trading bloc's officials realised this.