Brussels, 18/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - “Invoking European solidarity retains all its topicality and relevance”, the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said in Brussels on Monday 18 July, four days after the attack in Nice on Thursday 14 July, which left 84 people dead.
Ayrault was referring to the invocation of article 42.7 of the Treaty, on European solidarity in the event of an attack on one of its member states, in the wake of the Paris attacks of November 2015 (EUROPE 11432). Many countries gave France their support in different theatres of operations, for instance Germany in Mali, but also smaller countries such as the Czech Republic.
The need to renew the programme Sentinelle, which provides for the deployment of soldiers in the streets to protect sensitive areas of the French territory, has led to “pressure on Army staff”, the French minister said, in reference to the need for new efforts in the Middle East and Africa. Ayrault said that the EU ministers have been quite clear and “confirmed their willingness to continue and step up their assistance”. He said that work must also continue on the 'internal affairs' plank of the fight against terrorism, including the work leading up to the creation of the PNR system for the collection of air passengers' data and an exchange of information between intelligence services.
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, confirmed the willingness of the member states to help France on the basis of article 42.7 and to help to keep France and its European partners safe.
Externally, Ayrault stressed that European action should focus on stabilising the countries of the neighbourhood, in application of the global foreign policy strategy, and on reinforcing support to the partner third countries by helping them to strengthen their security capability. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)