Paris,09/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - “Drop it (…) there's no point” - certainly not what the French Minister for Defence intends to do - as Michèle Alliot-Marie confirmed on 8 June in Paris, saying that the situation created by the French and Dutch no-votes on the European Constitution “certainly does not put an end to our ability and our resolve to make ESDP move forward”. “We shall continue to take initiatives”, Ms Alliot-Marie promised, speaking at a seminar organised by the Economic Defence Council on the theme: “Towards sustainable European defence?”.
“As many countries in the euro zone are experiencing stagnation in their growth, one should see the defence economy as the possible source of growth”, the minister asserted, announcing the organisation this summer of a symposium of French and European defence policy officials. Europe must have a defence economy that is equal to its economic and political weight in the world, Michèle Alliot-Marie said. She went on to point out that: “It is urgent and imperative to strengthen the defence industry in France and in Europe”. The defence industry, which includes many SMEs, accounts for 170,000 direct jobs and at least as many in indirect employment, the minister continued, stressing that, what is true for France. In total, it represents 4 to 5 million in assets, she recalled, before calling for this economy and its effectiveness to be strengthened through intensified European cooperation. She went on to point out that such cooperation should be underpinned by three principles to: - encourage major projects borne by the industry; - defend our strategic interests (she cited autonomous decision-making, supply security and export capacity); - and “promote the emergence of leaders of European clout”.