ARTICLE: “Europe to consider plan for disaster relief service,” by George Parker, Financial Times, 10 May 2006, p. 4.

The Department of Most Everything Else (okay, so a focus on disaster relief) may be coming to the European Union, if the French (!) have their way.

Hmmmm.

The European Union should set up its own international rescue service to deal with disasters ranging from tsunamis to terror attacks, according to a plan to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit next month in Brussels.

The summit will consider plans for a multinational disaster relief force, with a command centre in Brussels and a training centre, under proposals drawn up by Michel Barnier, the former French foreign minister.

Mr Barnier believes the “Europe Aid” force will be a potent sign to citizens of the relevance of the EU, whose declining popularity was underlined by last year’s French and Dutch No votes to the proposed constitutional treaty…

His proposed force would be made up of professionals employed by member states, who would be sent to disaster areas “double badged” under their own national flag as well as the EU’s flag.

They would be coordinated by a command centre in Brussels, tasked with preparing contingency plans, analysing risks and overseeing relief operations within the EU and around the world.

Interesting. First, there is no home-away distinction, as same force serves both. Second, Barnier is both past French foreign minister and possibly the next one if Nicolas Sarkozy (pro-American, if I remember) wins the presidency. Barnier envisions an annual budget of up to 100m euros and a training center in place by 2010.

Now for the Department of Everywhere Except Europe…