A die-hard realpolitician would not bet a bottle of champagne that France would ever convert its seat on the UN Security Council into a European one.
Why should Paris share its right of veto in this exclusive club (whose real power is clear, however) with 26 other EU states that play at least one league lower in foreign policy?
Even if France were to get a “European” army for this, it would have to be one under French command for the cause to be worthwhile for the country.
And a common army worthy of the name will not exist in the EU as long as it consists of nation states.
So probably never.
Actually upgrade required
It is a little unworldly that such discussions boil up again and again in the EU.
Australia did not decide against France because it sits alone on the Security Council, but because the Australians were looking for a much more powerful ally against China.
Even together, the Europeans would be too weak to make a big difference militarily at the hot spots in the region.
The question that you will have to answer in the next few years is: do you want to seriously play in Asia, or do you focus on Europe?
Even the latter actually requires armament, for which political majorities are not only lacking in Germany.