French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to forge a robust European military force came one step closer after Norway and Finland joined the alliance and Italy expressed its willingness to do the same.

The idea of a European Intervention Initiative (EI2) was first put forward by Macron in his keynote speech at Paris's Sorbonne university in September 2017, where he pitched a "real European army" that would safeguard autonomy and territorial sovereignty of the continent.

The E12 would aim to build capabilities to deploy at a short notice and, when required, provide help with disaster relief.

The coalition, which would operate outside NATO's purview, was officially formed in June 2018, when the defense ministers of France, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Estonia, Denmark and the Netherlands gave their assent in a letter of intent in Paris. 

Finland joined the coalition in November 2018. Norway and Sweden followed this year, on September 20 at the E12's second meeting held in the Netherlands. 

Italy had conveyed its intention to participate a day earlier on September 19.

In a statement, Rome said: "Italy has officially communicated its readiness to join the European Intervention Initiative EI2, providing its particular national expertise in the security sector in the Mediterranean region."

The French capital will host a "light" permanent secretariat of the E12, staffed by a network of military liaison officers who will coordinate operations.