Defence department says Ireland would have veto on EU army

In response to Ursula von der Leyen’s recent proposal for a European ‘defence union’, the state said any plans would require unanimous agreement from all member states

European security: proposal for a defence union

Any plans for a European Defence Union or a European army would require unanimous agreement from member states and would have to be compatible with Ireland’s policy of neutrality, the Department of Defence has said.

While delivering her State of the European Union address last week, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, proposed a European “defence union”, referencing the “abrupt” US withdrawal from Afghanistan earlier this month as evidence that Europe ...