Maybe harry, tim or glas could help me out here- Iâd read that Ukraine were planning a major offensive (70k troops amassed along the border of some eastern Ukrainian province, and that theyâd resumed using cluster bombs on the civilians there for the fist rime in a couple of years). J wasnât sure tbh, but Is there any truth in the following?
In the third week of February, the Ukrainian military dramatically increased its shelling of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, as reported by observers from the OSCE
who decidedes whoâs a âEuropean partnerâ itâs all very open ended and being cyncical gives a mechanism for the EU to operate independently. It might not happen but the mechanism is there and I fundamentally donât agree with it, and never will. The mechanisms already existed for it to operate should a member of the Union come under attack
theyâre providing support in Somalia, Malia and Nigeria, currently as well as Eastern Europe. Irish troops are deployed by the EU under the CDSP to these places. Is that neutral?
It doesnât give the EU a mechanism to operate independently. Decisions are made by the council, thatâs EU heads of government.
Irish troops are deployed by Ireland to participate in these EU missions. Thatâs an important distinction. The missions are there with the permission of the host state. Yes, we are still neutral. Weâre not invading anyone or attacking anyone and weâre not part of a military alliance.
it will be managed and implemented by the high representitive who is Borrell, who is the fella I quoted about keeping the military budget in house. IE not spending on NATO
An EPF Committee composed of all Member States representatives will manage the EPF, in particular budgets and accounts. The Council will take political decisions on the EPF, such as where the assistance should be allocated, based on proposals by the High Representative
Borrell has to propospe it, or the high representative. Whatâs put in front of the EPF committee is chosen by him or the office.The council isnât involved in any part of it. The committee is representatives from all member states but they can only vote on proposals theyâre told to vote on.
Weâre getting in to the weeds again, neither of us will convince the other to change their stance on the âpeaceâ facility, I donât think.
The EU is being militarised, have no doubts about it. Thatâs why FFG are softly dropping it into society as a talking point, to normalise it. Itâs something we should be very wary of.
I have a fairly good handle on how it works and, Iâm not being condescending here, I can probably explain it to you if you have questions.
The key point is the council has the ultimate decision making power. What the high rep proposes will be stuff that has works itâs way up through various committees that are composed of all the member states.
Itâs not like borrell goes off half cocked and comes up with an idea and slaps it up in front of the taoiseach and says now vote on that.
Iâm not angry at all pal. Iâm having a debate while being called a fascist murderer etc⌠would you not considering the people saying that angry no?
using the forum as frequently as we both do probably isnât the healthiest for any of us, but it is what it is, right. I have to be stuck to the computer.
Presumably this Wade chap is the local drunk who people try to keep away from in the pub? A bit like Shaney is in Dungiven?
In March 2022, Wade proposed a theory that said the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was the result of Vladimir Putin falling into a âtrapâ set by the US and NATO, which was described already in 2019 by the Rand Corporationâs research report Extending Russia (RR 3063).
You have a fairly good handle on how it works now maybe but the political landscape in Europe changes and is changing. Orban has a vote on the council. What if France elected a right wing leader, or Germany? Doesnât their population size add weight to their vote on the council. Or Italy even.
Would you want Europe having the ability to deploy arms where ever it sees fit then?
