The EDC was proposed in 1952 to create a European army, shared budget & supranational governance, all integrated with NATO. But it was never ratified by France & Italy. Legally, it could still be revived today.
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The EDC would provide:
✅ A unified command to avoid national veto deadlocks
✅ A common European Defence Force (EDF) under NATO
✅ Joint funding for military spending & procurement
✅ An open framework for new Member States
Unlike today’s fragmented approach, the EDC offers real defence integration—balancing national & EU-level decision-making, strengthening NATO ties, and increasing European autonomy. It could even help rebuild defence relations with the post-Brexit UK.
Our paper recognises that reviving the EDC has challenges such as:
- France’s political resistance & nuclear deterrence questions
- Expanding beyond the original 6 states
- Balancing NATO integration with EU autonomy
Why now?
With US commitments in flux & rising EU defence budgets, the time is right to move beyond small steps and start a real debate on European defence. The EDC could be the bold step Europe needs.
ALCIDE de Gasperi: The protagonist of the launch of Europe, alongside others, with the Treaty of Rome.
But also the leader of the country which, while benefiting greatly from it alongside France (a disarmed Germany at the time), ultimately undermined it.
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✅ A unified command to avoid national veto deadlocks
✅ A common European Defence Force (EDF) under NATO
✅ Joint funding for military spending & procurement
✅ An open framework for new Member States
- France’s political resistance & nuclear deterrence questions
- Expanding beyond the original 6 states
- Balancing NATO integration with EU autonomy
With US commitments in flux & rising EU defence budgets, the time is right to move beyond small steps and start a real debate on European defence. The EDC could be the bold step Europe needs.
But also the leader of the country which, while benefiting greatly from it alongside France (a disarmed Germany at the time), ultimately undermined it.
I fear the result will be the same. ⛵️