Euro army 'will not undermine NATO'

Plans for a European defence force will boost security but will not undermine Nato, Tony Blair's official spokesman underlined today.

Mr Blair has repeatedly sought to calm Washington’s fears that the force would compete with NATO.

But his official spokesman today said the European force “made sense”.

“We need of course a strong European defence, but nothing whatsoever must put at risk our essential defence guaranteed within NATO.

“But clearly it makes sense for there to be a European defence capability where NATO chooses not to be engaged. That will strengthen defence.”