Today's Date:

• 2003-2008 Military Program Bill of Law

(...)

Given the (...) heightened international tensions and emergence of new threats which we're experiencing, I want begin by emphasizing the exceptional nature of the decisions I have taken with the government to rectify - and this was necessary - our country's defense effort. Both the Military Program Bill of Law for 2003, recently adopted by the Council of Ministers, testify to our determination to improve the security of our country, its people, its territory, in the face of the new risks of every kind we're seeing emerge. They will also allow France to strengthen the credibility of her statements and actions in Europe and, more generally, in the international arena.
The agreed measures, after five years of delay after delay, must enable our armed forces to restore their operational ability to satisfy all our security requirements and honour our international commitments.

(...)

Three priorities have been assigned to the Military Program Bill of Law . To improve the protection of the French and France in response to the new threats; restore the credibility of our international commitment to peace and the defense of our values and interests; and help build a strong and mutually-supportive Europe.
Improving the protection of the French in the face of the emerging threats and restoring the credibility of our international commitment go hand in hand. In practice, to achieve these objectives we have to complete the modernization of our armed forces in line with the 2015 model, whose pertinence has been confirmed by the recent events. The model itself has now been adapted to take on board technological developments and the lessons of the Afghan conflict. By 2008 France will have a broader range of options allowing her, if the situation so required, to carry out deep strikes, immediately commit well-equipped special forces, and project to a theatre thousands of kilometres away a modern protected joint force in a national or multinational framework. Acquisition of the Airbus A 400Ms together with some very long-range planes, development of the second aircraft-carrier and its environment, equipping of the first Air Force Rafale squadrons and delivery of the infantry combat vehicles will mark, inter alia, a milestone in our forces' modernization.

Preventing the new risks and improving the protection of the French, of whom, let me remind you, nearly two million live abroad, also means improving our intelligence capabilities. The decision has been taken to develop satellite capabilities within Europe and to acquire a broader range of unmanned aerial vehicles. This was, I believe, the right choice.

Finally, new capabilities for combating nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical risks will be put in place. Protection against attacks against computer systems will be the subject of a special project. A theatre missile defense program will be launched. Concurrently, France's air and sea approaches will be made more secure and the protection of national territory will be further strengthened through a significant increase in the gendarmerie's capabilities, one on which the decision has already been taken. And naturally, our modernized deterrent force will continue to guarantee the nation's survival and protection of its vital interests.

the 2003-2008 Military Program Bill of Law, which provides for significantly speeding up the manufacture and delivery of equipment, will give our armed forces the new assets which have become indispensable and will allow us to restore the operational readiness of an ageing fleet.
Let's make no mistake about this: it will not be possible to remedy some shortfalls, particularly in air transport, overnight. Solutions will have to be found, in the European framework, to maintain the coherence of our means of action.

Finally, the task of bringing into service the new equipment has to go hand in hand with that of modernizing the command and control capabilities, so as to offer perfect interoperability with our partners and our allies. As was highlighted by the recent military engagement in Afghanistan, the objective must be the control of information in real time, by all the players involved in any theatre of operations. (...) This is absolutely necessary if our commitment is to be credible in all circumstances.

DEFENSE EUROPE

The third priority assigned to the Military Program Bill of Law is linked to the building of Europe.
France is, with Britain, the largest contributor to the European defense effort. Our country will honour the commitment it made, at the 1999 Helsinki summit, to provide a fifth of the military capabilities required to meet the Headline Goal and, if necessary, shoulder the responsibility of lead nation. For this, we must be capable, by 2006, of preparing, planning and conducting a large-scale multinational operation decided on by the EU.

The Military Program Bill of Law will also contribute to the strengthening of the European defense industry by systematically promoting cooperative programs.

Finally, the significant increase in the research budget will make an essential contribution to ensuring the industry remains competitive. Defense Europe cannot be separated from the European defense industry which won't be able to survive without close cooperation between the Fifteen and an adequate budget.
Defense Europe is also an essential dimension of Europe. Without it, the voice of the European nations won't be heard in the international arena. Without the requisite capabilities for military action, Europe will remain impotent or dependent.

France is today setting an example and inviting her partners, all her partners, to agree to make the same effort so that the Europe we are building becomes more mutually supportive, stronger, and commands greater respect. (...)./.