The UK is may be officially at war and the media ignore it!

At war with terrorism? We already knew that.
If you are suggesting that we are in a state of war with another state then I disagree; the Islamic State is neither a state nor a representation of Islam.

The West was already officially at war with terrorists before Friday. None of what Hollande said is unusual or unexpected.... what's your point?

The West was already officially at war with terrorists before Friday. None of what Hollande said is unusual or unexpected.... what's your point?

Article 42.7 is specifically about being an object of an "armed aggression" rather than a "terrorist attack". If accepted by the EU Council the UK will be committed to an overseas war against the armed aggressor. This is very different from a "war on terror", it is a real war.

France and Russia are, but Britain has made no 'Official' declaration of war as such.

I think you may be missing the point, Article 42.7 commits the UK to an overseas war. The UK needs no independent declaration of war.

The 'armed aggression' happened to be a terrorist attack..

I don't know why the UK would wish to opt out of fighting them, should we wait until they bomb the tube? Dave already said the UK is providing every assistance necessary. So the war is on

The crucial point is that the French maintain that it was an attack by an identifiable, external aggressor in Syria.

I see, but does the article state they have to provide men or weapons?

Invoking Article 42.7 is a very significant ramp up of commitment, it includes bombing Syria and even boots on the ground.

"the other member states shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power"

I don't believe that the UK can back out of this commitment without violating the EU Treaties.

It states: "... assistance by all the means in their power". Yes, real war.

I am not disagreeing that Britain might have a legal responsibility to fight. But this is not the same as a formal declaration of war (which I do not think would be even possible since IS is not a state). That said formal declarations of war have been dead in the post-WWII world so I suppose we are as officially at war as we will ever get so I am probably being pedantic.

the Islamic State is neither a state nor a representation of Islam.

If the UN made a declaration, would it override the EU one?

According to Article 34:

"Member States which are also members of the United Nations Security Council will concert and keep the other Member States and the High Representative fully informed. Member States which are members of the Security Council will, in the execution of their functions, defend the positions and the interests of the Union, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter.

When the Union has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations Security Council agenda, those Member States which sit on the Security Council shall request that the High Representative be invited to present the Union’s position."

So the EU has some pretty powerful influence at the UN and will probably obtain UN clearance.

I see, especially with the likes of the USA who are whole heartedly supporting this war, the UN would definitely approve