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Somali pirates push the EU into uncharted naval waters
November 11, 2008
It’s been a long time coming, but the European Union is finally launching its first naval operation - a mission to fight piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia, one of the world’s most dangerous sealanes. Financially speaking, it’s a modest operation - the common costs are estimated at 8.3m euros for one year - but in terms of the EU’s self-image it may make quite a difference.
As French defence minister Hervé Morin put it this week, “This operation is proof that a Europe of defence is starting to take shape.”
One must keep a sense of proportion here. No more than six ships, as well as a few maritime surveillance aircraft, are likely to be involved in the EU mission at any given time. Still, Brussels wasn’t born in a day.
In any case, other operations aren’t achieving much, either. There is a Western-led fleet known as Combined Taskforce 150, which has about 12 to 15 ships in the Indian Ocean. It sometimes intervenes against the pirates, but it is concerned primarily with anti-terrorism operations linked to the war in Afghanistan.
The EU mission’s purpose is partly to protect vessels of the UN World Food Programme that deliver food aid to displaced people in Somalia. It also aims to protect other vulnerable ships and boats cruising off the Somali coast, and to deter piracy and armed robbery in general.
No one disputes the urgent need for the mission. According to the International Maritime Bureau, there were more than 60 acts of piracy or attempted piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast in the first nine months of this year - almost one-third of all such incidents worldwide.
The threat to international trade is clear. Insurance premiums for ships that need to pass through these waters have soared. Shipping industry insiders say that if the dangers increase, companies may avoid the Gulf of Aden altogether and take the far longer route to Europe and North America via the Cape of Good Hope.
One problem is the de facto collapse of the Somali state, which encourages widespread lawlessness. Another is the huge ransoms paid to the pirates: whereas a few years ago they were in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, this year they have risen to 2m dollars and higher. The payment of ransoms feeds the demand.
The difficulties of tackling piracy off Somalia are undeniable. A much larger EU naval mission would be nice in theory but, some say, too expensive in practice. That, however, is what it may come to if the problem gets any worse.
The EU is always a solution in search of a problem, which can be used as a pretext for expanding its competences. And the FT is always its mouth piece.
The EU needs to swept away, taking the FT Brussels team with them.
Posted by: Freeborn John | November 11th, 2008 at 10:16 pm | Report this commentThe first major naval operations of the nascent United States were against a quasi-state of pirates also.
See this summary at Global Security.
Interesting coincidence.
Posted by: James R MacLean | November 12th, 2008 at 3:16 am | Report this commentI dont think the EU navy combined with US navy can stop the Somali pirates. The only way the world can stop these thugs is to help stablize the internal conflict in Somalia and help those Somali peace loving people to build government for their country.
Posted by: Abdi | November 12th, 2008 at 5:55 am | Report this commentYou will see these EU Navy either capture or kill few pirates, but the fact is that these pirates will continue to hijack ships becasue they are getting more and more sophisticated as they are paid huge amounts of money!
Why doesn’t the EU extend it’s Naval operations to include deterrent measures against illegal immigration crossing the Mediterranean? Italy is in a perpetual state of emergency due to illegal immigrants arriving in thousands a day! Bear in mind that Italy is the first stop before they come beg at your door-step aswell thanks to Schengen.
Posted by: Emily | November 12th, 2008 at 12:59 pm | Report this commentApparently the EU prioritizes financial aspects, as this is the real Somali issue, rather than social protection and safety of our own boarders.
The above comments are pretty pathetic. Should I bother expanding my analysis? No, I just want my time back from a half baked Emily, a grammatically challenged DAS, a John who doesn’t understand the E.U. has a budget which is a fixed constraint and a Utopian Abdi who can’t accept that some races and Nations enjoy violence for dangers sake.
I want my time back!
Posted by: In Light of Nihilism | November 12th, 2008 at 2:09 pm | Report this commentMr. Nihilism: Your point would have some validity if the EU budget had ever been reduced, but that happy day is yet to come. The EU budget has increased remorselessly over time, as the same people who argue for ‘ever closer union’ argue that it should ‘have the resources to meet its ambitions’.
Posted by: Freeborn John | November 12th, 2008 at 3:12 pm | Report this commentThe Nation States decide upon and fund the E.U. budget, the last time I checked it was 1% of GDP per member state. Amounted to around 100 Billion. Obviously, GDP has grown, thus the E.U. budget has grown. I’m not going to verify the above, because then I’ll want even more time back.
If this is a problem for you, then lobby your national government. Stop whining and wasting more of my time.
Posted by: In Light of Nihilism | November 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pm | Report this commentItaly won’t Join EUNAVOR.This is a trick,where pirates are not the goal.The goal is to create a EU naval force as first step of a European Defense without NATO:which means whithout USA.An old Gaullist dream.Italy led the NATO force who preceded EUNAVOR,performing the initial,most complicated phase.Our government won’t help whtsoever ambiguous initiative like this.NATO,and US leadership,are the cornerstones of Western defence.That’s all.
Posted by: stefano de santis | November 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm | Report this commentThey can’t afford it Stefano.
Posted by: Rodchenko | November 12th, 2008 at 6:37 pm | Report this commentThe fact is that in 2008 ships full of foods , medicines, farm equipment,oil and gas or rich tourists should be able to sail free and safe , right?
They know the 7-10 ports-inlets where the pirates repost and download, they know who owns the big houses with big parties and corrupt state officials in them, so they can add the info and get to the root of the problem, the heads of the game, too fat and drunk to move around in their big flashy cars, why not a European 6 month operation in and out of Somalia and so help that country do a clean-up ? oooooops! i forgot, Somalia has no oil or gas ! so no one is very interested in fixing anything ,right?
this is a good time to test quick and light response units,like the A-400M ,discreet helicopters and light boats, paratroopers mobile units,night-vision gear and smart silence moves,they should be no violence or blood, just do precision surgery of the heads of the bad guys teams, lift them up and out without firing one bullet.
And do an African Conference, we must demand transparency and honesty from all top African leaders, it’s time to open all roads crossing the continent without fear of getting kidnapped, the African people needs Trade and Commerce,mobile phones and Internet everywhere , fresh water and antibiotics ,local honest police , schools and libraries,fresh foods and local goods needs these roads and trains safe and sound.
Posted by: financialtools1@gmail.com | November 12th, 2008 at 11:09 pm | Report this commentAs Rodchenko surely knows,Italian and Russian Navy performed in the Mediterranean,in the first quarter of October,the joint exercise IONEX.We do not confuse between false foes and true enemies.
Posted by: stefano de santis | November 13th, 2008 at 10:22 am | Report this comment