Atalanta's means: fair, just right

(BRUSSELS2 to Wroclaw) The last force generation conference for the Eunavfor Atalanta operation showed that the means committed by the Europeans to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean are fair, just at the minimum level required, as multiple sources confirmed this to B2. " We have the minimum required confirmed an Atalanta officer. " But just clarified another.

6 ships only

In fact, for the current period, the operation can only count on an average of 6 ships and two or three maritime patrol aircraft, as confirmed by Carme Chacon, the Spanish Minister of Defense in Wroclaw. A figure to be compared to the 8 to 12 boats on which the operation was able to count in previous periods. For Christmas, a sensitive period of ship relief, where everyone is looking (quite logically to fit into their periods), the system is in a critical zone. " The whole question is how to have more ships at Christmas » confirmed before the meeting of defense ministers a senior European official.

Few states actually contributing

Finally, " it is almost always the same states that provide the means at sea comments an officer to B2. That is to say France, Spain, Germany and Luxembourg - for the hard core - Greece, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands. Spain through Carme Chacon has thus promised to remain involved in the operation by providing at least one ship and one maritime patrol aircraft. The Spanish minister wants to initiate discussions now to extend the operation beyond 2012. But the problem now is to obtain other commitments from countries that are not currently taking part in the operation. " We need to mobilize other boats other countries" explained in Wroclaw, the French Minister Gérard Longuet. " It's a real challenge confirmed to B2 Gerald Howarth, the British Deputy Minister of Defense in charge of International Security Strategy. However the UK did not offer to provide a missing vessel. Same position on the Polish side, where a close friend of the Minister of Defense confirmed that Poland had not offered forces. However, there are some glimmers of hope. " We have received several declarations from countries ready to commit forces a Polish official told B2. In addition to Spain, Sweden, for example, would be among those.

Means in the area

Today there are 6 boats in the area:

• 2 Germans: the frigates Köln (F-211) and Bayern (F-217) which serves as FHQ - force headquarters -;
• 2 Spaniards: the amphibious assault ship Galicia (L-52), which also serves as a hospital ship, and the corvette Infanta Cristina (F-33);
• 1 Dutch: the tanker HNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832);
• the French frigate Surcouf, which is not permanently under European command;
• A Greek frigate, the FS Hydra (F-452) will also be engaged from September 30.

On the air side, there are 8 helicopters provided by the ships present in the area as well as 3 maritime patrol planes - a Spanish P3C Orion and 2 Luxembourg Merlin - and a fourth patrol plane - a German P3C Orion - as of this Sunday.