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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 defence 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 defence 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 defence 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.
https://euobserver.com/news/128217
