Schwerin, 31/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Security and defence issues played a large part at the 79th Franco-German summit on 30 July in Schwerin. After the Franco-German Security and Defence Council which met on this occasion, France and Germany stated in a press release that the EU must rapidly step up its defence and security policy means. They pledged to make the necessary effort to strengthen European civilian and military means of action. Furthermore, they signed an agreement on placing the French Helios II and German SAR-Lupe systems in common to contribute to the creation of an independent EU satellite reconnaissance capacity, and confirmed their "commitment" to development of the European A 400M military transport aircraft.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine shows, moreover, that the French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, welcomed the proposal made by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt to include a mutual guarantee clause between Member States in a future EU Treaty (see EUROPE of 24 July, p.5). According to the FAZ, a representative of the German government said the latter would have "no problem" with such a clause but that it was "not very clever" on the part of Guy Verhofstadt to have written only to Tony Blair and to Jacques Chirac, as the initiative concerns the whole Union.
Speaking at the final press conference, President Chirac said that "more than ever, it is obvious that agreement between Germany and France is an indispensable condition of European construction. It is almost a mechanical problem". Chancellor Schröder gave his assurance that they "plan to reach a common position on European issues so that Copenhagen is a success". On the subject of the French/German differences on reform of Common Agricultural Policy, Mr Schröder (who spoke in this respect of "slight differences") said he felt it is "possible to reach a compromise between France and Germany so that we can speak with one voice in Copenhagen". A working group will be set up, "from October to December" to finalise a "common Franco-German position" on "problems of agriculture, financing, and the contributions from each country", confirmed Jacques Chirac. Working groups will also be formed on the European Convention (a group chaired by the representatives of the two governments at the Convention, Peter Glotz and Pierre Moscovici", and on ESDP.
Jacques Chirac told the press: "I do not want to imagine an attack against Iraq (…) If it were to happen, it could only be justified if it were decided by the Security Council".
France and Germany decided to hold informal summits every month (currently they are every six to eight weeks), and Mr Chirac is to dine at Mr Schröder's residence in Hanover, end August or early September.