IRISH MEPs HAVE recently been raising concerns about a future ‘EU army’. 

While this isn’t surprising, given the issue of Irish neutrality and the EU, it is a topic that garners strong opinions.

Added into this is the issue of Pesco, – the EU’s permanent structured cooperation arrangement that 25 states have signed up to. Ireland’s one of those countries. But what is Pesco, why do some people criticise it, and what does it mean for our defence forces?

We looked at the subject of an EU army and Pesco for this week’s edition of The Explainer podcast. 

Joining presenter Sinéad O’Carroll in studio is TheJournal.ie reporter Rónán Duffy and former Irish soldier, defence analyst and author. 

https://soundcloud.com/the-explainer-podcast/the-explainer-whats-the-story-with-an-eu-army/s-UBYGh

This episode was put together by presenter Sinéad O’Carroll, executive producer Christine Bohan, producer Aoife Barry, assistant producer/technical operator Nicky Ryan, and featured reporter Rónán Duffy and Declan Power. Design by Palash Somani.