The EU thread

[Syt]

Thessaloniki seems an interesting city to visit. It is a bit out of the normal tourist wave. I think my first time in Greece was in 1987. To Kos. The traditional taverna was still there, not restaurants, pebbled beach. I entertained myself with a football on the beach and in the water, practising scissor kicks. Unfortunately, I hit some topless German tourist wife and got a stern telling off. 

The tourist-y places are many around the whole Mediterranean. You sort of have to accept it. I am not one for five star hotels, but rather renting a flat with a balcony and having some degree of self-service for food.

Maybe the lack of jet fuel will have adverse consequences for the tourist industry, because most fly. And it is an industry on its own. My ex and I visited Santorini off-season, and the place was beautifully quiet. When the season is over, so much closes down for 6 months.

Was in Thessaloniki for a business trip 10 years ago. Very nice town; would have liked to stay a bit longer. Also best fish restaurant I've ever been to

[Jacob]

So apparently Germany has become the largest ammunition producer in the world:

The US is no longer the leader: Germany has become the largest ammunition producer in the world

In Germany, the defense concern Rheinmetall has significantly increased the production of ammunition and military equipment. According to the company's management, the country has overtaken the United States in the production capacity of conventional ammunition.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said the company has significantly increased production in several areas. In particular, the production of military trucks has increased from 600 to 4,500 per year, medium-caliber ammunition from 800,000 to 4,000,000, and artillery shells from 70,000 to 1,100,000.

"Germany now has more capacity to produce conventional ammunition," Papperger said.

He also noted that the defense industry previously faced a shortage of personnel because it was considered unattractive. At the same time, in 2025, the company received 350,000 applications from candidates, of which 250,000 were from Germany.

Rheinmetall currently employs 44,000 people, and the number of employees is expected to increase to 70,000 by 2030. An additional 210,000 people may be employed in supply chains.

Papperger emphasized that the concern cooperates with 11,500 German suppliers, of which 4,500 also work with car manufacturers.

He predicts that arms production could replace about a third of jobs in Germany's automotive industry, which is facing cuts.

The company also continues to expand production capacities and cooperate with partners, including in the field of repair and production of military equipment.

Let us recall that Germany, for the first time in history, presented a military strategy in which Russia is recognized as the main threat to European security . In particular, official Berlin plans to transform the Bundeswehr into the most powerful army on the continent.

https://prm.ua/en/the-us-is-no-longer-the-leader-germany-has-become-the-largest-ammunition-producer-in-the-world/

[Valmy]

I was told Europe doesn't produce artillery shells. Or does this mean nobody does?

[Sheilbh]

I was told Europe doesn't produce artillery shells. Or does this mean nobody does?

Six of one half dozen of the other I think.

Big spending increase by Germany on defence and European focus on artillery shells - I think attention really brought to it by the Czech initiative a couple of years ago.

But from everything I've read there's a general sense that Western militaries just may not have enough stuff and have a lot of catching up to do if they're preparing for a conflict with another state. That seems to be true both from Ukraine and Iran.

[Norgy]

I was told Europe doesn't produce artillery shells. Or does this mean nobody does?

My neighbouring Nammo plant produces shells and rockets.

[Zanza]

Pretty sure that's just an exaggeration by the Rheinmetall CEO. That said, there is significant investment in the defense industry and Germany has more than doubled military spending compared to 2022 and is planning further growth.

[Sheilbh]

Interesting to see Belgian PM announce they're going to nationalise Belgium's nuclear power plants and that plans to decommission them are halted with immediate effect. Comes a month or so after he said that Europe neded to normalise relations with Russia in order to get cheap energy back (which was condemned - although I'd note Belgium has always struck some....distinctive positions on Ukraine and Russia).

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Interesting to see Belgian PM announce they're going to nationalise Belgium's nuclear power plants and that plans to decommission them are halted with immediate effect. Comes a month or so after he said that Europe neded to normalise relations with Russia in order to get cheap energy back (which was condemned - although I'd note Belgium has always struck some....distinctive positions on Ukraine and Russia).

those plants should never have been sold, not been put up for decommissioning when they were. The result of Green dogmatic madness and one of the reasons why Green never should be in government.
25 years ago we exported energy, now we're just about managing.
Greenism -> 3rd worldism.

As for Russia: not a big fan of the position. Russia needs to be defeated, and ideally dismantled

[Zanza]

Suggesting that reactivation of Tihange-2 might be sensible is just gaslighting.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Suggesting that reactivation of Tihange-2 might be sensible is just gaslighting.

It's mainly keeping what's left going before they get dismantled. Like I said: the entire nuclear phaseout should not have happened.
Especially not since the replacement was gas. How's that for gaslighting.

[Zanza]

Sure, the phaseout was a mistake. But so is pretending a long deactivated and partially dismantled plant is anything but a ruin.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Sure, the phaseout was a mistake. But so is pretending a long deactivated and partially dismantled plant is anything but a ruin.

It's Belgium.  People are still pretending this ruin works, so it's in character. As is getting shafted by france

[Syt]

That's silly, you guys should be getting shafted by the Dutch.

[Maladict]

Don't forget the Germans. They should get shafted in all three official languages.

[Valmy]

those plants should never have been sold, not been put up for decommissioning when they were. The result of Green dogmatic madness and one of the reasons why Green never should be in government.
25 years ago we exported energy, now we're just about managing.
Greenism -> 3rd worldism.

As for Russia: not a big fan of the position. Russia needs to be defeated, and ideally dismantled

Why would a green party want to increase a country's dependence on fossil fuels?