Brussels, 09/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP met French Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie in Paris on 9 January. During a working lunch, they mainly spoke of improved EU defence capabilities, the adjustment of structures for European crisis management missions and CFSP financing (followed by the European Council at Hampton Court).
Ms Alliot-Marie also discussed with Solana on the subject that is close to his heart - Africa. She outlined progress made in the Europeanisation of RECAMP, the programme for reinforcement of African peace-keeping capacities. French sources state that the issue should be discussed during an informal meeting in March, in Innsbruck, by defence ministers of the EU Member States. Ms Alliot-Marie and Javier Solana were also to review a number of EU missions, above all in DRC (the UN has called on the EU to oversee the next elections in DRC), Darfur and Palestine, and also to take stock of the situation in the Balkans. Furthermore, France was to recall its proposal to establish “strategic dialogue” between the EU and the Gulf countries, as is the case for certain Mediterranean rim countries (the group of 5+5 includes Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain).
During the afternoon, Solana also held a meeting with Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Foreign Minister, and Catherine Colonna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs. The current situation in the Middle East (especially Israel and the Palestinian elections) and Iran's nuclear programme are expected to be the focus of discussion.