While many MEPs call for Europe to unite to face security threats and coordinate strong foreign policy, views diverge on the tools to draw on.

Shaping Europe's response to foreign policy and defence challenges

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11990239/n006-150311-001-en.srt

Everything has changed  and we have changed very much as well.

If Europe doesn't succeed in addressing  the difficult crises

and challenges it faces  in the immediate proximity of its borders,

it cannot be the credible European actor

which the EU Parliament report  rightly calls for the European Union to be.

As war engulfs the Middle East,  with the emergence of terrorist ISIS

and Ukraine is being destabilised  by an aggressive Russia,

the global status quo that we had all  become familiar with has radically changed.

These are both foreign  and domestic threats,

as the High Rep. has pointed out,  common to all EU Member States.

The EU's international environment  is volatile with the dire security challenges

that range from long-lasting war conflicts

to the steady rise  of authoritarianism and extremism.

Strong EU action is the only way forward

to tackle the myriad of threats  on our doorsteps.

When Europe is faced  with conflicts to the East and South,

these perhaps revive the idea  that we need an EU army,

which is also something  that I as a federalist welcome.

But this is far from being achieved  because most of the States are reluctant

to invest in Foreign and Security and  Common Security and Defence policies

The proposal to have a European army  is a good visionary goal.

Member States are spending three times  the amount Russia is

for defence  and have more soldiers than the US.

And our taxpayers have the right  - through European synergies -

to spend less money and see more results.

This is why we are asking you,  the High Representative,

to present this during the June Summit  along with concrete proposals.

A foreign policy and God forbid,  an EU army, is folly of the highest order.

We need a renewed defence policy  which is more practical and ambitious,

but while remembering  that the EU has decided expressly

Everything we do must foster  democracy and the rule of law,