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France Reveals EU Navy Plans
Here's one that got away - France is proposing a European Union "carrier group" and joint fleet of military transports in a bid to boost the EU military.
Reuters reports that Nicolas Sarkozy sees more muscular EU armed forces as a condition for France's return to NATO. France takes over the EU's rotating Presidency in July and Sarko, with stubbornly low approval ratings at home, is hoping flashing initiatives will help France take a grip of the EU's destiny.
"Ownership" of the EU was once viewed as France's birthright, but expansion eastwards and economic decline have shifted the centre of gravity away from Paris; perhaps Sarkozy will take advantage of the post-Irish vote disarray in order to propose new directions for the EU.
Reuters says,
"Aides close to Defence Minister Herve Morin said negotiations with Britain were well-advanced on creating a European naval group based around either a French or British aircraft carrier permanently on the sea.
"Other nations could then contribute frigates, submarines or refuelling vessels as required, the aides said.
"Separately, Paris wants to fill longstanding gaps in air transport that have dogged European military operations by creating a fleet of the A400M heavy airlifter which defence group EADS will roll out later this month.
"The project would operate on a timeshare basis allowing states to buy operational hours as required, a Morin aide said."
