EU considers naval operation off Somali coast

[Darsh]

European foreign ministers on Monday agreed to set up a "coordination unit" to help tackle the growing problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia, with the possibility of an EU naval mission in future.

The 27 EU ministers stressed their concern at the "acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast" and decided "to establish, in the next few days, a coordination unit in Brussels with the task of supporting the surveillance and protection activities carried out by some member states" off the coast.

The ministers, meeting in Brussels, also approved a "strategic military option for a possible European Union naval operation," in the area.

The ministers "would like to see the current planning work press ahead," they added in a joint statement.

A flurry of attacks by Somali pirates is wreaking havoc with maritime traffic in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean amid complicated negotiations over the release of two kidnapped French sailors.

Spanish ships have also been targeted and the Spanish fishing fleet in the area has decided to move further out to sea.

In their statement the ministers said they were "gravely concerned" at the situation.

The EU "deplores the continuing deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Somalia," in general and expressed concerns at "the difficulties in reaching the civilian population and at the security conditions" for humanitarian groups operating there.

Conflict, drought and rising food prices are threatening an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the troubled Horn of Africa country.

Pirate attacks on ships bringing food aid and supplies by sea have further complicated the delivery of humanitarian relief.

http://www.france24.com/en/20080915-...on&navi=EUROPE

[Philos Sophos]

I agree...let's bomb those bastards to stone age...well,if not that then atleast make the waters safe.

[kepper]

I agree...let's bomb those bastards to stone age...well,if not that then atleast make the waters safe.

I are correct

[Valentin the II]

Its about freaking time!

[Panzerbear]

I agree...let's bomb those bastards to stone age...well,if not that then atleast make the waters safe.

too bad Somalia is already in the stone age .

but, hey, its about time. Somalian pirats in 21st century sounds like an insult to the world community.

I sure hope Russians will also jump on the bandwagon .

[Plautus]

too bad Somalia is already in the stone age .

but, hey, its about time. Somalian pirats in 21st century sounds like an insult to the world community.

I sure hope Russians will also jump on the bandwagon .

No please not. We would be busy with rescuing your seaman from sunken ships

[Mithie]

Hats off to the EU, and I hope they succeed.

The US tried it, the Chinese tried it, Egypt tried it, India tried it, and piracy is still rampant.

Guess it's EU's turn in the ring this time.

[the Black Prince]

what do you mean, its about time?

There's been an international task force in the area for a couple of years now, and featured many EU nations.

The problem is Somali's territorial waters. Until a recent security council decision, the pirates could retreat to the safety of Somalia's national waters where the task force couldn't get them.

Nice to the EU has decided to act though. A bit more of a contribution from other EU nations wouldn't go amiss to the support the work that the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands have been doing out there in association with Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and Pakistan.

[Carach]

what do you mean, its about time?

There's been an international task force in the area for a couple of years now, and featured many EU nations.

The problem is Somali's territorial waters. Until a recent security council decision, the pirates could retreat to the safety of Somalia's national waters where the task force couldn't get them.

Nice to the EU has decided to act though. A bit more of a contribution from other EU nations wouldn't go amiss to the support the work that the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands have been doing out there in association with Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and Pakistan.

indeed, but are u not aware that our UK government has been spending more time and resources on outlining the human rights of pirates, than actually trying to stop them?

[Guderian's Duck]

As I recall, the Germans already have two destroyers committed to the area for the protection of shipping there.

[Plautus]

As I recall, the Germans already have two destroyers committed to the area for the protection of shipping there.

No two frigates not destroyers ;-). Mecklenburg class if i recall correct.

[Erebus Pasha]

indeed, but are u not aware that our UK government has been spending more time and resources on outlining the human rights of pirates, than actually trying to stop them?

Not surprising considering our past.

[attilavolciak07]

The War against Pirates has always been dificult, I don't see an end soon. On the American Armed Forces Network (tv broadcast) they told about all the trafficking and piracy that happens, it seem they have been sleeping for a while.

[Heathen Hammer]

They'll never beat Jack Sparrow!

[zligor]

Pirates now, in XXI century? I thought these guys were eliminated by the beginning of XIXth? Only exists in books&films&games?

[Caelius]

the Black Prince beat me to it.

This is all political, the EU has no Navy, and (by extension of several member states employing their own naval missions) has already been involved in operations off the Horn of Africa.

[Gelgoog]

I've tried to raise the awareness of the plague of modern piracy on the high seas, but no one wants to listen. Its essentially equivilent to the mass of plane hijackings in the 70s-80s times 100 but with absolutely no media coverage because the companies instead of fighting these terrorists, just pay them off and hush it up.

[Furious Mental]

Actually the UN Security Council passed a resolution providing for any country with the agreement of the government to enter Somali territorial waters to pursue pirates. The biggest legal problem for the Royal Navy is actually the fact that Somalia has the death penalty and therefore any pirate that it arrests could potentially claim asylum in Britain under a protection visa.

[Carach]

I've tried to raise the awareness of the plague of modern piracy on the high seas, but no one wants to listen.

i listen mr scheuch. i am a monthly subscriber to a naval magazine that always has features about it.

can always count on it to include piracy and how the RN is being completely arse raped by the UK government.

No please not. We would be busy with rescuing your seaman from sunken ships

leave them for the pirates to pick up tbh.

[Plautus]

leave them for the pirates to pick up tbh.

nice idea but they wont do it...what shall they do with them?