Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács has told Hungarian television channel M1 that setting up a joint European army is in the fundamental interests of the EU.

He said that the EU has tried to establish such a European army a number of times over the past few years.

Mr. Kovács added that this is an issue which is not being debated either in the Commission or any other European body. He highlighted that a joint armed force is indispensable for the community to attend to its basic tasks, and to protect its borders and interests.

Yet even if the process begins, it could take years until such a joint army is created, Mr. Kovács said.

(MTI, Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)