France endorses stronger EU defence policy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has endorsed a proposal to strengthen European Union policy in defense and security matters, while seeking to renew trans-Atlantic ties, presidential spokesman David Martinon said Jan. 3.

“He considered these two objectives as complementary within the same security and defense policy,” Martinon said in a statement.

The proposal was made in a progress report of the commission drafting France’s white paper on defense and security, due to be submitted in March.

Sarkozy is due to take up the rotating presidency of the European Union in July for six months. France also is considering a full integration into NATO’s military command structure.

Sarkozy backed the commission’s effort to define a “global doctrine on national security, which would both assure security of French people and meet our international responsibilities,” the statement said.

To meet these objectives, the commission recommends that national security should be organized along five strategic functions: knowledge and anticipation, which include intelligence; deterrence; protection; prevention; and intervention.

On the French armed forces, Sarkozy maintained a triple commitment: that the services be equipped with modern resources suited to the mission; a big effort be made to maintain equipment at the best possible level; and that personnel and their families should be recognized for the specific nature of their commitment.

In light of this, Sarkozy repeated a target of maintaining defense spending at around 2 percent of gross domestic product. Given the overall constraints of state finances, the objectives would be reached through reforms and rationalization, the statement said.

Sarkozy agreed with the commission on the need to modernize and strengthen the organization of the state and a coordination of civil and military resources to meet threats and crises.

As recommended by the commission, Sarkozy will create a council for defense and national security, supported by a consultative council whose members will be appointed by the head of state.

In line with the commission’s proposal, the draft white paper will be presented to the parliamentary committees of the lower and upper house before the president makes a final decision. Once the text is officially completed, the prime minister will present the main lines to both parliamentary houses.

Sarkozy has asked for further progress reports to be made between now and the beginning of spring, the statement said.

The commission chairman, Jean-Claude Mallet, gave Sarkozy the progress report at a meeting that included Prime Minister Francois Fillon, other ministers and the heads of the commission’s working parties. It was the first such report since the commission was formed Aug. 23.

Source: P. Tran - DefenseNews

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