France, Germany to put EU defence plan to sceptical partners

France and Germany will make the case for the European Union's most ambitious defence plan in almost two decades on Tuesday, aiming to persuade sceptical easterners and avoid a showdown with Britain over its military future outside the bloc.
EU defence ministers including Britain's Michael Fallon will discuss Franco-German proposals in the hope of whittling down a host of ideas into a coherent strategy for their leaders to formally back at a summit in December.
Britain, which retains full voting rights until it leaves the European Union, is adamant the plans must not weaken NATO and it has... read more