European army/navy/air force

[Bastardeux]

There's been quite a lot of talk in the news recently about fiscal/political union etc. but over the past couple of days, European leaders have started talking about a full on EU military. Anyone think this could work?

[L J R]

Did (does??) NATO not work out.....?

[Bevo]

There's been quite a lot of talk in the news recently about fiscal/political union etc. but over the past couple of days, European leaders have started talking about a full on EU military. Anyone think this could work?

Absolutely. It would save money by combining non-integrated systems which won't function together. And these forces would not have to worry about replacing any equipment lost in combat as the politicians would never agree on when to commit them. ;)

[Corrona]

It may appear to work presentationally (joint bases, equipment, structure etc), but would be an absolute nightmare to work within for any Brit Mil type. We would all be given positions with respect to our Rank, which of course sounds fine....until Brit Mil Capt/Flt Lt finds himself working for Italian/Spanish Major/Sqn Ldr, who I know from experience (with exceptions) has the wisdom, worldliness and judgement that we would expect of a JNCO. This is replicated all the way up. Full Colonel...more like Capt!

Quite simply northern Europe is occupied by a different species than southern Europe.

This kind of organisation would be paralysed by it's own internal battles. You would have more chance of getting an air strike from the air cadets!

[AGS Man]

Great idea in theory but.... it could be that this joint force standardizes things to the extent that it buys all of it's aircraft from one country, all of it's tanks from another etc. Then UK plc gets left with the dregs but our Forces deployed to a coalition tend to be higher than the other European countries.

[Bastardeux]

Quite simply northern Europe is occupied by a different species than southern Europe.

:D

What worries me, if we ever did get swallowed up by this proposed behemoth, is that the military slips even further down the priorities list in the socialist sausage factory that is the EU.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

"Right we have to find staff jobs for 5 Colonels and 2 generals each from xxxxland, yyytia, etc"

"I've met one who's OK, the rest are arrogant muppets"

"Well we'd better put them somewhere prestigious, hopefully where they won't muck things up day-to-day"

"OK, war plans and future procurement then"

20 years later....

Daily Farce

Europe occupied by angry students from North Africa, EU military defeated in a week. "Only the toothpicks worked, and they were all in Estonia"

[pr00ne]

Corrona,


Nonsense!

Remind me again how many hundreds of years it was that this 'different species' from Southern Europe conquered, occupied and ruled most of Northern Europe?

[Wensleydale]

Has been working for well over 20 years at Geilenkirchen with the NATO AEW Force. The system has its limitations but it actually succeeds. It is more like a flying club than military (or it was when I was there far too many years ago) but the individual Nations run their own people on the base leaving the individual to get on with flying. Despite being sceptical when I first went there, it taught me a great deal.

[baffman]

over the past couple of days, European leaders have started talking about a full on EU military

Any link? I can't say I was aware of any recent developments on this subject. There has certainly been increasing chatter about "pooling and sharing".

[Rigga]

You're too late! - this particular Goliath is already on the move and has been for years - Google:
"European Defence Agency"
or
"European Military Airworthiness Regulations"

[Bastardeux]

EU foreign ministers discuss integration - FT.com (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/999d6264-ba23-11e1-84dc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1yk6CPUpi)

The same story has been reported in a few nespapers; that they are preparing to put forward a roadmap for these proposals at next week's summit.

"Ten EU foreign ministers have spelt out radical suggestions to use the eurozone debt crisis as a springboard towards closer integration, including creation of a European monetary fund, a European army and a European finance minister."

My guess is that the EU will eventually become a country in all but name, and that the UK will choose to go its separate way...

[Melchett01]

There has certainly been increasing chatter about "pooling and sharing".

I think that is probably it. NATO "smart procurement" has come back on the agenda in recent weeks and is being plugged quite heavily in some parts. The US, are however, sceptical, warning that it shouldn't be seen as a method of cutting back further on individual defence budgets whilst hoping that the Alliance will step in at the crucial moment.

[Bastardeux]

I'm not so sure, I think something big might be in the offing...

[salad-dodger]

European Military Airworthiness Regulations
more about easing sales than creating a European force, completely different drivers!

S-D

[Surplus]

Pr00ne,

Remind me again how many hundreds of years it was that this 'different species' from Southern Europe conquered, occupied and ruled most of Northern Europe? However, nowadays all we have to do to defeat them is not bail their banks out, they couldn't afford to fuel to invade, never mind the hardware.

[Union Jack]

Remind me again how many hundreds of years it was that this 'different species' from Southern Europe conquered, occupied and ruled most of Northern Europe

However, nowadays all we have to do to defeat them is not bail their banks out, they couldn't afford to fuel to invade, never mind the hardware.

The "successors" to the "different species" seem to have managed something of an invasion last evening, however belatedly ......:{

Jack

[Agaricus bisporus]

It would save money by combining non-integrated systems which won't function together.

Rather like the Euro does financially and the EU itself does politically?

Mmmm, I can see potential there...for cluster****.

[Lonewolf_50]

So, how's the Eurocorps been working out lately? I recall a lot of hot air about that formation in the 90's.

If the nations can't get THAT level organized, what hope an entire combined military?

PS: if they want to fight well, they need the common language to be German, if they want to do better at staff work, French. :E

[polyglory]

It will never work in a month of Sundays. Period.

[Bastardeux]

i doubt that'll stop 'em trying though!

[Rosevidney1]

If the Eurocrats spot fresh positions on the gravy train they will strain every fibre in their miserable beings to promote it. :mad: