Lieutenant General Michiel van der Laan, Chief of the European Union Military Staff, said he does not expect a unified European army to emerge in the foreseeable future.

In an interview with Algemeen Dagblad, he noted that the decision to create a common EU army must be made separately by the parliaments of all member states, and he believes this approach should remain unchanged. Van der Laan added that he currently cannot imagine troops from across Europe operating together in Oirschot as a single military unit.

According to him, deepening cooperation at the bilateral level is far more realistic and effective. He explained that close interaction between neighboring countries works because they do not face major cultural differences, citing the German-Dutch joint military unit as an example. He also pointed out that the Dutch Navy maintains extensive cooperation with the fleet of its southern neighbors.

When asked whether the European Union could eventually «stand on its own feet» in matters of security, van der Laan emphasized that EU member states already have an action plan. He said the EU has developed a strategy aimed at ensuring that by 2030 the Union can independently maintain its defense capability within the NATO framework — a goal he defined as true operational readiness.

The idea of creating a unified European army has been debated within the EU for many years. Supporters argue that combined armed forces would strengthen Europe’s defense and reduce reliance on NATO, while opponents highlight political divisions within the EU and express concerns about losing national control over the military.