Between Paris and Rome, a certain honeymoon

(BRUSSELS2) It is a kind of goodbye to which the French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has given his Italian counterpart, Giampaolo Di Paola, who could leave office after the elections which will see the end of Monti's "technical" government in Italy. The two men thus spoke on Monday (February 11) at the Hôtel de Brienne during a working lunch preceded by a private meeting, just before the informal meeting of Defense Ministers in Dublin. On the menu of conversations: the international situation, the various European meetings and operations in preparation (Mali and Libya) as well as industrial rapprochement projects.

Syria, Mali, Libya

Syria of course, but also Mali. “An update was thus made on the progress of Operation Serval but also and above all on the imminent launch of the European Union mission EUTM Mali. “says a press release. Libya was also mentioned during the exchanges between the two ministers, with the future European border management mission. For the two ministers, the concrete mobilization of Europeans is a major step towards the construction of a Europe of defense (which it is necessary to intensify”. Preparation for the December 2013 European Council, devoted to defense issues, is a “ major opportunity for Europeans to mobilize in a concrete way on capacity and industrial issues” they point out together.

Between Rome and Paris, a honeymoon

Between Italy and France, there is a honeymoon which however depends on the election results. But various appointments have been scheduled. After the Franco-Italian summit in Lyon on December 3, a progress report will thus be organised. shortly with the Chiefs of Staff and National Armaments Directors of the two countries to address the " cooperation projects to promote at bilateral level or within a European framework, such as industrial synergies to explore between the two countries.