Euro-MPs regret France left alone in Mali

(STRASBOURG) - EU lawmakers Tuesday hailed France's military intervention in Mali while regretting the European Union's failure to take part as a bloc in the battle against West Africa's terrorist groups.

Opening a debate on the Mali crisis in the European Parliament, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton paid tribute to France and to West African nations "acting against those who want to impose an undemocratic and violent regime" in Mali.

She said wide-ranging measures would be taken to assist Mali when EU foreign ministers meet Thursday for emergency talks -- from military training to humanitarian assistance, and support for African troops poised to step in also.

Malian Foreign Minister Tieman Coulibaly too would attend, she said.

"We need to accelerate our course of action," she said.

But many MEPs said the EU line was too little too late.

The 27-nation bloc had been discussing the worsening security situation in Africa's Sahel region for more than two years, while talks on providing trainers for the Malian army -- one of the decisions expected Thursday -- had lasted for months.

"We want to see some action because the credibility of the EU's foreign policy is at stake," said French conservative Arnaud Danjean, a member of the parliament's biggest EPP group.

With Europe's security at stake "we should've gotten involved two years ago," he added. "But today there are only only French soldiers on the ground."

"I have a bizarre feeling," said Greens leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit. "Everyone says 'we' but only French troops are over there. People are promising nurses for the French as they go get themselves shot."

Cohn-Bendit said France's decision to go it alone highlighted the EU's failure to set up an EU civilian or military force capable of intervening.

"France has been left to play a role beyond its capabilities," he added.