Brussels, 06/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - “France and Europe in the World” is the title of the White Book on France's foreign and European policy (2008-20) elaborated by a committee chaired by Alain Juppé and Louis Schweitzer. What one retains most from the text is the fact that Paris considers that, “in all the different hypotheses, the Lisbon treaty is expected to close a 15 year cycle of institutional reform that has juxtaposed the Community model and intergovernmental elements, leading to mixed or relatively complex governance; whether it is adopted or not, no immediate changes to the institutions will be required”. Although the White Book calls for a freeze on the institutional meccano, it does, however, propose setting the objective of, “moving to a new stage of political integration in 2020”.
White Book priorities for the European Union include: the strengthening of EU external action; the development of a common security culture, which could take the form of a common defence strategy by 2020; more solidarity-oriented operation funding; the pooling of certain military resources (air/naval group, strategic transport); fostering relations with main neighbours; settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and developing the partnership with Latin America.
Following on directly from the French White Book on security and defence, the text highlights the importance of risk-anticipation intelligence, particularly in regions close to Europe, such as the Sahel to central and southern Asia zone and on which the department for foreign affairs is requested to make a contribution for improving its informational gathering and analysis capability. The text explains that “France will have to make a contribution to the development of an emerging common risk vision, and more broadly, towards a 'shared strategic culture' involving all members the European Union”. The text also mentions the objective of coordinating and pooling European resources for extracting and evacuating citizens from crises abroad.
The White Book on foreign policy explains that, “NATO remains a political necessity and a relevant consultation and action framework for collective and common allied defence in crises. It has to evolve, particularly with regard to increased flexibility, responsiveness and in order to take into account progress made by the Europe of defence. Its enlargement process must remain compatible with its cohesion and the political situation in Europe. This is why further NATO enlargement can only be envisaged in the long-term and with the greatest of caution”. The text affirms that by playing a proactive role in NATO, “France is both demonstrating the importance it accords the trans-Atlantic alliance and its relations with the US in the context of the current strategic context”. France therefore has to, “continue to push the European Union into playing an increasing security role in Europe and the world”. The text adds that, “Most effort should focus on European military capabilities so that they can be used autonomously in a major crisis”. The White Book states that, “a new stage of our rapprochement with NATO should be used to help move forward in this direction and to encourage the organisation to make reforms and become more European. Naturally, we do not have the keys to these developments alone, some of which, a Europe that has major military action capability and a NATO that affords it an appropriate place - can be seen as future gambles. We have to at least make them possible, particularly in a way that allows the construction of a European security and defence policy and support for the trans-Atlantic relationship to be no longer perceived as an alternative”.
The White Book is available at the France's Department of Foreign Affairs website. (O.J/trans/rh)