Quote Originally Posted by JAG
I think there would have to clearly be a strong command system with as few people at the top as possible, for the system to work properly and it would also need a binding agreement of some sort as for the roles in which it would play, etc. It is a complicated process.
You hit the nail on the head there with the exact reason why this wouldn't work. The EU cannot do anything without the most obscene amount of bureaucracy and deliberating - it would have to be overseen by all nations, probably with some ridiculous equal (or it least inequitable) representation of power. This would be the worst way to try and run an army and would make it a laughing stock. Without some very serious EU reorganisaton this just isn't a viable prospect.

The language barrier is also a great problem with this system. Many terrible mistakes were made in Bosnia due to poor communication between French and English speaking troops. While you can just say they should all speak English I cannot imagine the French accepting this for a second - especially considering that the United Kingdom has the 4th largest military (in terms of personnel) in the EU.

There are also serious differences in the calibre of units between nations - both in terms of training and equipment. If this were to be standardised acrosss the Union then many of our finest units would suffer from the process while pushing to maintain the best units would leave the UK and France looking at very large expenditure to keep their troops (and other nations') battle ready.

Finally, it's a bit pointless having a European Army if there is no standardised European foreign policy. Since the military of a civilised nation can be seen as the final branch of its diplomacy, without a common agreement on how to deal with other nations there could be no cohesion. Would the European Army have had to fight in Iraq? How would the EU feel about the heavy collaboration between the British and American militaries (especially the exchange of secrets)? Would such an army be duty bound to push for a withdrawl of American forces from Germany?