BRUSSELS (Dispatches) -- European Union nations, now unfettered by Britain’s decision to quit, achieved a 70-year-old ambition Thursday to integrate their defenses, launching a pact between 25 EU governments to fund, develop and co-deploy armed forces.
European Council President Donald Tusk deemed the move "bad news for our enemies.”
First blocked by the French Parliament in the ’50s and later by Britain, which feared creation of an EU army, the pact aims to end the squandering of billions of euros by splintered defense policies.
It is also aimed at lowering Europe’s heavy reliance on the U.S.
"More than half a century ago, an ambitious vision of the European Defense Community was created but what was missing was the unity and courage to put it into practice,” Tusk, who chairs EU summits, said of the failed ’50s attempt.
"The dream was at odds with reality. Today this dream becomes reality,” he said in a speech in front of EU leaders and military personnel from each of the 25 countries involved.
Denmark, which has an opt out from EU defense matters, and Malta, were the only EU countries not to sign up, along with Brexiting Britain.
The pact, called Permanent Structured Cooperation, or PESCO, is meant as a show of unity and a tangible step in EU integration, diplomats said, particularly after Britain’s decision to leave.
EU leaders also agreed to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months over what they say is Moscow’s interference in Ukraine, which is not an EU member.
Tusk said in a tweet that the bloc’s members "united on roll-over of economic sanctions on Russia” at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they had had an "intense discussion” on the measures, but "there is not enough progress in order to end the sanctions.”