Three Maydays, two within the Paris FIR. One response was "say again", the other was "say again", but after several routine calls to other aircraft. Within Europe, my advice is that, unless you are working within UK airspace, any problem deserving of a "pan" call, should be a mayday. Get the call out, get the controller's attention, get the assistance you want. You can always downgrade later. As regards the inevitable paperwork, would you rather be filling it in sitting over a stiff drink, or wishing you could be filling it in, sitting in a smoking heap?
May it never happen
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The future's yellow; powered by purple!