'There WILL be an EU army' German official claims 27 European militaries will UNITE

Hans-Peter Bartels, Germany’s national defence commissioner welcomed the single force because the bloc is “currently disorganised”.

Speaking on the same day Brexit talks formally began, Mr Bartels said steps in the “right direction” are important, which signalled Germany’s potential plans to press ahead with defence integration.

Mr Bartels told the Telegraph: “We are currently disorganised, technically fragmented and duplicate structures unnecessarily.

“We do not want to go down the solitary national path anymore. Not in Germany, not in the Netherlands, not in the Czech Republic and not in Italy.”

He added: “In the end, there will be a European army.”

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission has continuously expressed his support for the army.

Taking a swipe at President Donald Trump, Mr Juncker said the United States is “no longer interested in guaranteeing Europe’s security in our place”.

He added during a conference in Prague: “Our defence to NATO can no longer be used as a convenient alibi to argue against greater European efforts.

“We have no other choice than to defend our own interests in the Middle East, in climate change, in our trade agreements.”

Britain has been long trying to prevent EU defence integration, fearing the development of an EU army would undermine its relationship with NATO.

Weeks before Theresa May triggered Article 50, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon urged EU officials to avoid creating “duplicate structures”.

He said: “Today we are urging the European Union to cooperate more closely with Nato to avoid unnecessary duplication of structures and to work together on new threats, including the need to strengthen cybersecurity.”