Instead of Selling to Russia, France to Sell Mistral Ships to European Union

[jone]

HOT OFF THE PRESS:



France is to supply its Mistral warships to the EU foreign service instead of to Russia in a move designed to forge a “genuine European defense policy”.

The landmark deal comes after EU sanctions over Ukraine, last year, stopped France from transferring the first of the two vessels to Russia.
It also indicates deep EU scepticism on Moscow’s promises to make peace.

EU foreign relations chief Federica Mogherini said on Wednesday (1 April): “This purchase, by an EU institution, of two amphibious assault vessels, marks a historic step in ‘the framing of a common defense policy’, as envisaged in Article 42 of the Lisbon Treaty”.

“Last year witnessed the eruption of major new challenges in the EU neighbourhood … in this crucial time, the EU is determined to step up security co-operation".

The French foreign ministry said it "underlines France’s commitment to the creation of a genuine European defense policy”.

It also said it'll save jobs in the French ship-building sector “at a difficult time”.

Under the agreement, the first of the ships, the “Sevastopol”, which is currently undergoing sea trials near the French port of St. Nazaire, is to be handed over to the EU in May.

It is to be renamed the “Juncker”, after European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, and to be posted to Riga, the capital of EU presidency Latvia.

The second ship, to be named the “Mogherini”, is to be transferred in 2016 and to be stationed in Lampedusa, an island in the EU top diplomat’s native Italy.

The €1.2 billion acquisition will be funded by the commission, the European Defence Agency, and the European Central Bank (ECB).

The Mistrals are capable of carrying 16 attack helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armoured vehicles, and 450 soldiers.

The Juncker will be manned by personnel from the Benelux Battle Group, comprising servicemen from Belgium and Luxembourg, but not the Netherlands.

The other 26 member states will be represented in minor capacities, including, for instance, British cooks.

The Juncker will sail under an EU flag, but will be registered in Panama for tax purposes.

The decision to deploy forces is to be made only if Nato declines to act.

It is made on the basis of a proposal by the European External Action Service, which must be endorsed by the EU Council’s Political and Security Committee and by a consensus of EU foreign ministers.

The European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions must be “consulted” before action is taken, but will have no power of co-decision.

The ECB funding means the Juncker and Mogherini will also host “troikas” - groups of EU experts tasked with ensuring operations are in line with austerity.

The Juncker’s initial task is to deter Russian aggression in the Baltic region.

But it will be moved to Luxembourg, a landlocked country, when Luxembourg takes over the rotating EU presidency in July.

The Mogherini will be staffed by Italian sailors and will stay in Lampedusa.

“It’ll defend EU values by detecting irregular migrants on their way to Europe and making sure they go back where they come from”, an EU source said.

[ML]

Sounds like a good idea.
But why British cooks rather than Italian?
And why not home port them in Switzerland to demonstrate neutrality?

[AkMike]

  Gottcha!


EU newspaper’s April 1 joke fools Russian news agencies
 05:21, 1 April 2015 Meduza

Russian news agencies RIA Novosti, Tass, RT, and Interfax published reports today that one of Mistral-class helicopter carriers built in France for Russia would be transferred to the European Union. The source for this information—an April Fools’ Day joke that Russian media mistook for real news—was the online newspaper EU Observer, which claimed to have learned of the transfer from Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief.

EU Observer claimed the first Mistral ship would take the name Juncker, in honor of European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. The military vessel would sail to Riga, the newspaper joked, because Latvia currently holds the EU presidency. The Juncker’s crew would supposedly be made up of soldiers from a certain unit based in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

It was said that the Juncker would fly the EU flag, but be registered in Panama, in order to “save money on taxes.” The ship would be tasked with curbing Russian aggression in the Baltic region.

EU Observer joked that the Juncker would sail from Riga to Luxembourg, a landlocked country. This would occur, the prank article explained, when the EU presidency moved to Luxembourg. The second Mistral ship, EU Observer continued, would be named Mogherini, and be based on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Russian media outlets quickly issued corrections, after learning from EU representatives that the story in EU Observer was an April Fools’ Day prank.
http://meduza.io/en/lion/2015/04/01/eu-newspaper-s-april-1-joke-fools-russian-news-agencies

[Photo Guy]

?I heard those ships were to be based at Lake Baikal.

[AkMike]

The Juncker’s initial task is to deter Russian aggression in the Baltic region.

But it will be moved to Luxembourg, a landlocked country, when Luxembourg takes over the rotating EU presidency in July.

 This made me start looking for an expaination.

[mendeleyev]

This line also gave it away:

The other 26 member states will be represented in minor capacities, including, for instance, British cooks.

Other than sitting outside and feeding bread crumbs to the pigeons, no self-respecting culinary establishment would allow the bangers and mash crews to take over a professional kitchen. 

[AkMike]

 

[Anotherkiwi]

This line also gave it away:
Other than sitting outside and feeding bread crumbs to the pigeons, no self-respecting culinary establishment would allow the bangers and mash crews to take over a professional kitchen. 

What's your problem with bangers and mash?  It's one of my favourite food combinations, and it should go down a treat in the home of the blandest menus in the world (which, incidentally, I love).

[mendeleyev]

All tongue in palette of course, and I concede your point as a truly well-trained British chef can execute a vast number of culinary delights, of which an almost exhaustive list is herein detailed:

- Bangers and mash

- Fish and chips

- Bangers and chips

- Fish and mash

- Fish and Bangers

- Mash and chips

Of course they can also deliver complete 4-course meals:

- Fish and Bangers and mash and chips

- Chips and mash and bangers and fish

- Bangers and chips and mash and fish.

- Fish and chips and Bangers and mash


I've seen British chefs complete a five-course meal!

- Bangers and mash and fish and chips accompanied by a glass of water.


While unconfirmed, it is rumoured  if a French or Italian chef happens to be in the kitchen at the same time, then Brit chefs can roll the Beef Wellington cart from the kitchen out to where diners are seated. 

Or course we must also give proper due to Russian chefs at international dining establishments. If not for the Russians, who would staff the valet parking?

[SANDRO43]

All tongue in palette of course, and I concede your point as a truly well-trained British chef can execute a vast number of culinary delights

You forgot a few essential items :

[msmobyone]

Dear Mendy and Sandro,

you forgot

Faggots

Bubble and squeak

Scotch Broth

Arbroath Smokies

Jellied Eels

Fried Elvers

Ulster Fry

Durham Squab Pie

Toad in the Hole

and many other British influences to world cuisine. 

[ghost of moon goddess]

Dear Mendy and Sandro,

you forgot

Faggots

Bubble and squeak

Scotch Broth

Arbroath Smokies

Jellied Eels

Fried Elvers

Ulster Fry

Durham Squab Pie

Toad in the Hole

and many other British influences to world cuisine.   

such as Pudding with a nasty name 'Spotted Dick' ?   

[Anotherkiwi]

such as Pudding with a nasty name 'Spotted Dick' ?   

...and "Yorkshire Pudding," which isn't even remotely close to a pudding!

[SANDRO43]

Well, since the Scots are British, too - albeit reluctantly - we should not omit...Haggis :

[jone]

I hate that stuff.  Had it in London and then knew why the Brits import French chefs.