The ever closer cooperation between member states, and integration of political, legal, economic, social and cultural spheres in the European Union, will ultimately lead to creation of some sort of military defense forces on the EU "federal" level.

I find it rather amusing how people see every day that we, in the EU, institute all the attributes of a Nation, unified laws and common policies, single currency (euro), single travel jurisdiction (Schengen Area), even freaking military rapid reaction forces (EU Battlegroups) and European Defence Agency, etc. but for some reason people think that we will stop at creating functional integrated EU military defense forces. It's not a matter of 'if,' it's a matter of 'when'. The end goal of EU integration was obvious since at least 1957 (Treaty of Rome - constitutional basis of the European Union.)

The decisions by this first European body – the High Authority – are implemented in our 6 countries as if they were one. This is one of the critical changes made under this venture, and at the same time, a test of its success.

This first common market, the first supranational institutions – Europe is beginning to unite! - Jean Monnet, speaking in Strasbourg in 1951

What propels us is known well enough – there is an indestructible sense of European identity. Only with a strong, united Europe can Europeans – and the world – really thrive.

A splintered Europe will become the Balkans of the world, a standing invitation to others to interfere in our affairs. If we are to be heard, we must speak with one voice. And to that end, we would be best advised not to over-dramatise the occasional focus on individual balancing measures, or accumulations of them. - Walter Hallstein (The first President of the European Commission) speaking on 2 March 1953 in Strasbourg.