French want our ships for EU navy

French want our ships for EU navy
Royal Navy vessels could take part in a new “European Union fleet” being planned by France. The French proposal would see a British aircraft carrier placed at the heart of a new EU naval group. The prospect of such close co-operation between two navies whose clashes include the Battle of Trafalgar is likely to outrage eurosceptics and is already said to have caused concern among British admirals. The plan for an EU naval force is being put forward by Nicholas Sarkozy, the French president. Gordon Brown and Mr Sarkozy are said to have discussed the plan earlier this year, and French officials have described the talks between London and Paris as “well advanced.” Mr Sarkozy will take over the rotating presidency of the EU next month and plans to use the role to push for greater European defence co-operation. The French leader sees the EU project as France’s reward for rejoining NATO’s military structures. Aides to Herve Morin, the French defence minister, this week briefed journalists in Paris that France will use the EU presidency to propose a “European carrier group”, which would ensure that the union always has at least one carrier at sea. The German Defence Ministry in Berlin has also confirmed that Germany is open to participating in the joint force and is awaiting more details from Mr Sarkozy. Britain and France are the only EU powers with aircraft carriers, and agreement between London and Paris would be the key to any shared naval force. snip http://tinyurl.com/66rrkm Can we leave now?

Now wait for the S.O.P. from British Ministers to this. Stage 1 - Ignore the issue on the domestic stage in the hope that the population won't notice it. Stage 2 - Say that it will come to nothing. Stage 3 - Say that we'll veto it. Stage 4 - Say that we'll get an opt-out. Stage 5 - Start to weaken opposition by saying that we'll lose 'influence' by not taking part. Stage 6 - Slip us in through some back door means.

No reason not to take part in joint exercises with a NATO partner, is there? It is not as if we will be giving the carrier to the French, after all.

No reason not to take part in joint exercises with a NATO partner, is there? It is not as if we will be giving the carrier to the French, after all. But that's what what is being proposed is it. What is being proposed here (as I understand it at the moment) is that British warships (and servicemen) be given over permanently to EU command. We might retain nominal "ownership" (and thus the liabilities) but in reality we will not command our own ships. So when, for instance, some future Argentinian opportunist starts to made rude noises about the Falklands, we will potentially have to appeal to Brussels to respond (with our own forces).

Well, Dog ... As you know, I will be out of the EU in a trice once I Come to Power, but it does seem to me that one should either be in or out. This half-hearted Europeanism is not tenable in the long term. Indeed. But I'll take half-hearted untenable Eurpeanism in the short, medium or long term, rather than permanent, non-reversible Brussels dictatorship forever.

I bet Mr. Sarkozy's pushing this one. 'Look, we've got three (two brand new) carriers under (our) command (now). <---- snip----> The deal was contingent on a £4 billion Government order for two new aircraft carriers, which was confirmed last month and is expected to be signed shortly. Work on the ships, to be called The Queen Elizabeth and The Prince of Wales, will sustain 10,000 UK jobs at its peak, including 1,200 at VT's Portsmouth shipworks, which will build the forward mid-ship sections of the vast ships. The 280-metre, 65,000-tonne carriers will be able to carry 40 aircraft and are due to go into service in 2014 and 2016. <---- snip ----> http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/shipping/shippingnews/display.var.2335987.0.shipbuilders_unite_to_form_new_company.php

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