Von der Leyen

German DM: European army is "long-term goal"

BERLIN -- The creation of a European army is our long-term goal, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has said.

She mentioned the example of the German-Dutch military cooperation in a joint interview with her Dutch colleague Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert given to the daily Bild am Sonntag.

Sparks also flew within the NATO framework this week as the new Greek government attempts to find its European and international “groove”, with Athens on Thursday angrily responding to the German defence minister’s comment of “Greeece jeopardizing its position in NATO by approaching Russian interests.”