The European Union does not have its own army, but it sends soldiers throughout the world to maintain peace and help populations under threat from conflict or natural disaster.

A-Z: D for Defence

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15350563/J002-0055-ENa.srt

Does the European Union  have its own army?

How would the EU defend itself  in the event of an attack?

The EU does not have  a large standing army,

but there is a  European Security and Defence policy.

So how does it work then  the EDS, EDP, EPS...

but it can send soldiers worldwide  under the EU's flag.

These soldiers maintain  the peace in international conflicts

and help populations under threat from  conflict or natural disaster.

The EU increasingly coordinates  foreign missions.

EU soldiers operate in 3 continents  and work with the United Nations.

Mission objectives can differ:  destroying arms, advising foreign armies,

monitoring elections and  protecting the seas from pirates.

The EU is organising itself so it can  deploy naval, air and troop forces.

Some 1500 to 3000 EU soldiers must  always be ready to act with little notice.

It's what's called military rapid response.

Europe has common structures  to carry out operations

based on the capacities of  its members.

But the EU doesn't have a truly common  defence force with a permanent army

because the Member States  are divided on this issue.

Some countries are neutral like  Austria and Finland.

Others like the United Kingdom and some  Eastern European countries

prefer to cooperate with the United States  to ensure their defence through NATO.

But the EU countries do agree on  defending each other.

If one is attacked all the others must help  using all the means in their power.

This doesn't apply to the neutral countries

or those that have defence agreements  with other military organisations.