One of Germany’s most senior defence officials has become the latest to add his voice to calls for a European army.

Hans-Peter Bartels, Germany’s national defence commissioner, on Monday called for Nato’s EU members to organise their militaries into a single force.

“In the end, there will be a European army,” he said.

His comments, on the same day Brexit talks formally began, are a sign the rest of the EU is preparing to press ahead with further defence integration.