The European Union's top diplomat has scrapped plans for an expert panel on defence that was set to launch on Monday, after opposition led by Italy, officials said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced plans last week for a group of senior ex-defence officials, including from Ukraine and Britain, to write a report on how best to shore up Europe's security.
But officials said the initiative was scrapped at the last minute after objections spearheaded by Italy, and later backed up by France and Germany, that it stepped on the toes of national defence planning.
"Some member states felt this was not the right path to pursue at this moment," an EU official said on condition of anonymity.
"We are looking at new ways of engaging with member states. The diagnosis has not changed: Europe needs to deliver faster on defence."
The aborted initiative comes as Europe scrambles to plug gaps in its defences in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine and doubts over US commitments to the continent.
The cancellation, first reported by Euractiv, is a blow for Kallas, who is currently also grappling with calls to overhaul the EU's diplomatic service that she oversees.
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