Paris, 5 December 2007 – France, which is to assume the rotating Presidency of WEU in January and that of the EU in July 2008, intends to make “European defence one of the top priorities” in its programme of work, said the French Prime Minister, Mr François Fillon.

In a statement delivered in his absence by Mrs Christine Roger, France’s Permanent Representative to the WEU Council and the EU Political and Security Committee, Mr Fillon said that “today Europeans must enter a new phase in the development of European defence, in which Europe can act when it is required to”, adding “the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) is no longer an ambition, it is our obligation”.

In the Prime Minister’s view, “the main challenge facing the European Union is the capabilities we actually have to deal with the threats” and which at present “are inadequate and not sufficiently organised”. Recalling that national defence budgets were “subject to strict constraints”, Mr Fillon hoped that “the costs would be more equally shared between those countries that cover the bulk of them and other countries”.

France wants to include in the European work programme for 2008 “updating the European security strategy” which was adopted in 2003. “Europeans must assess the achievements of this strategy, which remains largely valid, and take account of developments in the strategic environment”, Mr Fillon felt.

Regarding preparations for implementing the new European Treaty in the area of defence, the Prime Minister said that “above all the European Union will have to make decisions in the coming months” in order to “relaunch its armaments policy, streamline its defence capabilities and improve European armies’ ability to work together”.