Paris, 06/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - In a speech to conclude the Defence Europe seminar organised for 1 July in Paris by the French EU Presidency (see EUROPE of 1 July, p.4), CFSP High Representative Javier Solana stated above all that the Fifteen, during the ministerial conference in November on military capabilities that they will be ready to make available for EU operations, should present "credible commitments". The "addition of national contributions will not be enough", and it will be necessary for the "overall aim to result in an operational force for all possible crisis scenarios", he said.
As far as the European arms industry is concerned, Mr Solana felt it will mainly be necessary to examine "to what extent the use of such Union instruments could serve the aim of necessary decompartmentalisation in national defence markets, by ensuring that account is taken of the specific characteristics of this strategic sector". It will be a matter of bringing closer, then of harmonising the operational needs as well as the process for acquisition of military material and, at the same time, meeting the request made by the industry to have a harmonised regulatory framework".