France's Macron seeks joint defence force under EU reforms

The French president Emmanuel Macron has called for a joint EU defence force as part of his vision for the future of the bloc, BBC reports.

Setting out a series of reforms, Macron proposed greater cooperation on security and the fight against terrorism.

In a major speech at the Sorbonne university in Paris, Mr Macron said he wanted the European Union to boost its common defence systems and have "autonomous capacity for action" through a joint military force.

He called for a shared defence budget and common policy, and said a European training academy should also be created.