Europe of Defence: Priorities of the French Presidency of the European Union presented to NATO
- On: 16.07.2008
- In: Brussels, NATO
Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Minister of State to the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs, gave details to the Permanent Representatives on the revitalisation of the European Defence Policy.
France has made the revitalisation of European defence a priority under its presidency of the European Union
1 - Some ten years after the Franco-British summit at Saint-Malo gave the initial kickstart to a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), the policy has now undeniably acquired operational maturity and political legitimacy.
The European Union has developed operational instruments to implement ESDP; almost 20 civil and military operations have been conducted in various theatres (Balkans, Africa, Middle East and Asia); and all the Member States are now concerned by the development of ESDP. The EU conducts noteworthy work in its crisis management operations such as in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chad (EUFOR). The will of Europeans to act to further world peace and security is supported by the United States, which recognises the contribution of ESDP to common security.
2 - Today, however, the means employed by the Europeans fall short of the requirements of current and future crises and do not match Europe's level of economic or technological development. In the face of the threats and risks posed, Europe needs greater unity and determination.
Therefore, the core aim of the French Presidency is to foster the conditions to strengthen the operational, military and civil capabilities that the Member States provide to the EU. This does not mean creating a European army, but rather setting out the effort needed over the next ten years and using concrete examples of projects conducted together (helicopters, strategic transport, space, etc.) to demonstrate this.
3 - Strengthening European defence is part of a renewed political vision, based on the complementarity of European and NATO defence. The principle of complementarity is shared by the Europeans and our US partners, who recognise the need to improve EU-NATO relations (21 out of 27 EU Member States are also NATO members), and particularly in locations involving the participation of the two organisations e.g. Kosovo and Afghanistan.
- Updated: 26.11.2008
