West Africa - Sahel

The tricolor intervention in Mali is good, a blue flag with stars is better (European Parliament)

(BRUSSELS2) This Tuesday in Strasbourg, a majority of MEPs welcomed France's military commitment in Mali. Many of them underlined "the exceptional circumstances" and the "urgency" created by the rebel offensive in northern Mali. For the deputies, it was necessary "to prevent the country from falling into the hands of terrorists". " This is not an Arab Spring, and terrorists are not liberators. Such an outcome would be catastrophic not only for Mali, but for Africa and the rest of the world as well.. underlined Charles Tannock, the British MEP, spokesperson for the Conservatives. However, the MEPs have asked that France benefit from the real solidarity of the other Member States. " It is up to Europe to assume its full share of responsibility by affirming, displaying, active solidarity on the logistical, humanitarian and military levels. clarified Marielle de Sarnez (for the Modem and ALDE spokesperson on the subject). Same feeling for Dany Cohn-Bendit. " I am clearly in favor of an intervention in Mali, but we must go further. We have known for a year what is being prepared in this country and France, together with the EU, has tried to stem the tensions through diplomacy. However, it is clear that no one had thought of a "plan B" in case that failed and moreover, there is no European civil or military intervention force. (...) We are all concerned by the situation in Mali, but for the moment only France is present in this country. It's a bit like saying, go ahead, we'll provide you with the nurses! »

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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