Azeredo Lopes said this was in response to a need to develop a common strategy to more easily help and more easily stop any emergency situations.

Speaking at the parliamentary defence commission, Azeredo Lopes said “nothing has been signed yet” and what they were discussing was the signature of the letter of intention in June.

The minister said that Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the UK, Holland and Estonia were all discussing “the creation of the most flexible cooperation framework possible”.

If it joins, Portugal will appoint an officer from the joint chief of staff to integrate the network of liaison officers, he said, adding “it is obviously not about creating a European army or creating a new European force but facilitating the most effective use of instruments that already exist”.