France’s Perception of the EU Defence Industrial « Toolbox »

Over time, the European Union (EU) could gradually become a major player in the EDTIB, the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. In recent years, it has developed several initiatives to support defence industrial cooperation between Member States and their defence companies. For European capitals, this represents a major paradigm shift. How do they see this new role that the EU, and the Commission in particular, are in the process of acquiring? What is their perception of the EU’s toolbox for supporting the EDTIB?

To answer these questions, the ARES Group has decided to launch a series of seven papers (comments) on various European countries. The case of France is presented here by Jean-Pierre Maulny, Deputy Director of IRIS. Jean-Pierre Maulny notes that the French position on the EU defence industrial toolbox can only be understood by bearing in mind the 3 pillars of the French strategic culture. Firstly, France is pursuing an autonomous foreign affairs policy. Secondly, France is actively engaged in shaping a unified European foreign policy, aiming to foster a stronger and more influential Europe Thirdly, there is an indefectible transatlantic link underlined by the comeback of France in the NATO military structure in 2009.

France considers that the EU defence industrial toolbox must be built in complementarity between the various stakeholders, i.e., the European Commission, the European Defence Agency, the Member States, as well as with the EDTIB. France’s armament policy is integrated into the European framework, whether at the intergovernmental level or the community level, as France spearheads participation in PESCO and EDF projects . Nevertheless, France’s relations with the Commission are much more complex, even conflictual, than some European observers would think. For now, France has not considered the possibility that the European Commission could take the lead in crafting a European defence industrial policy capable of partly or even fully replace the policies formulated at the national level. Such a reflection should be conducted in the months and years ahead…