Mr Verhofstadt was speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg during a debate on the future of Europe, which was begun with a flagship address by Emmanuel Macron, the French president and poster child for closer EU integration.
The former prime minister of Belgium attacked the EU for its inertia in the face of crisis and called for reforms of “daring and vision” after Brexit.
A coalition of European militaries ready to react to crises near the continent‘s borders was launched on Wednesday with Finland becoming the 10th country to join, amid calls by French President Emmanuel Macron for a „real European army.“
The French-led initiative would not conflict with the almost 70-year-old, U.S.-dominated NATO alliance, proponents say, but reflects in part concerns about a more isolationist United States under President Donald Trump, as reported by Reuters.
(6.8.2018) French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Europeans cannot be protected without a „true, European army“, as he marks the centenary of the World War One Armistice.
On a visit to the former Western Front in Verdun, he said Russia had shown it could be a threat and Europe had to be able „to defend itself better alone“.