The Franco-Italian couple reaffirms its attachment to the European defense policy
(BRUSSELS2) The Sarkozy - Berlusconi meeting on Tuesday (April 26) in Rome was also an opportunity for the two French and Italian partners to recall their " commitment to strengthening the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and the need to consolidate the latter. They set out their demands: a development of the operations of the PeSDC, instruments (European Defense Agency, military operations HQ) and give a roadmap to the High Representative. One more...
CSDP operations wherever European interests require it
France and Italy are thus in favor of strengthening the EU's capacity to act, within the framework of CSDP operations "wherever the situation and the interests of the EU so require and by mobilizing all the instruments at its disposal ". We can thus notice the double mark of the CSDP which is not only linked to a situation which requires it but also to the defense of "EU interests" and the need to mobilize "all" the instruments.
Incidentally, we can emphasize that Italy supports the process (capabilities and operations) initiated by the three countries of the Weimar triangle in their letter on European defense addressed to the High Representative of the EU on December 6 last.
A military operations headquarters in Brussels
The two leaders also consider it necessary to " strengthen and develop, on a permanent basis, the existing structures dedicated to the planning and conduct of EU operations in Brussels”. In other words, to set up a military operations center in Brussels.
A Defense Agency, a gateway for cooperation
A message of support is sent to the European Defense Agency (EDA), whose work makes it possible to " facilitate, in practice, a better sharing of tasks and increased cooperation between them and within the EU-NATO framework ". Message which is not quite insignificant when we remember the reluctance to appoint the new director of the Agency.
A roadmap for the High Representative
Finally, the two accomplices draw up a roadmap for the High Representative of the EU asking her to " quickly present specific proposals in particular on three points: 1) a progress report on capabilities and operations (which is on the agenda of all formal defense councils anyway), 2) the EU/ NATO (a mandate given by the European Council in September), 3) the permanent capacity for planning and conducting operations (of which we actually have no more news). The remaining objective is to decide on “concrete results” at the next European Council, which will take place under the Polish presidency, and will therefore be devoted, in part, to defense issues.
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