A Finnish frigate for Operation Atalanta?
Nothing is official. It's certain. But
News from Helsinki confirms that Finland has started preparations to engage further in the European anti-piracy operation Atalanta by sending a frigate to the area
by the end of the year (it already has two officers in the General Staff). And it could be one of the firm offers of the conference
generation which has opened up. In any case, one of the obstacles to this commitment has (almost) been removed.
In Finland, everything begins (or everything ends), in fact, with a negotiation between the social partners. Even in the defense sector. The Three Unions
concerned (officers, non-commissioned officers, executives) have thus just reached an agreement on the conditions of service and the principles of recruitment of the personnel serving on the ship sent to the
off Somalia. The soldiers thus detached will receive, according to our Finnish colleagues from Demari, the same compensation as when they are outside
their home port. And an "Opex - crisis management" bonus, the amount of which has yet to be determined.
The decision could be made politically by the fall. The mission would last about 4 months and would be scheduled for 2010. As for the ship, it could be
the minelayer, the Pohjanmaa (01 - photo), which includes a crew of 80 men and women.
NB: In Finland, professional associations have the right to exist and negotiate salary agreements for the military. And the soldiers receive a compensatory allowance when they
stay out of their home port for some time.
(Photo credit: Finnish Armed Forces)
