Today's Date:

With the virtually simultaneous enlargement of the Atlantic Alliance and the European Union, some people have speculated about competition, on the security front, between the two organizations.

The difference of view on last year's intervention in Iraq prompted discussions and fanned doubts in this respect.

Today things are becoming clearer.

Everyone can now see the futility of such wrangling.

The Atlantic Alliance is Europe's security pillar.

Article 5 remains an essential guarantee of collective assistance in the event of serious difficulty.

We know that the Atlantic Alliance's new members are particularly sensitive to this, especially those who have recently recovered their independence.

We understand the feeling of the Baltic States who wish to have assurances in the face of an environment marked by uncertainty. Membership of the Alliance is one of these assurances. That of the European Union is another. Dialogue with their neighbours is also essential.

We have to realize that, with the demise of the USSR and Warsaw Pact, NATO has moved on. It has added to its primary mission that of providing a forum where the allies consult one another and, if necessary, take action to confront threats to their security. They did so in the Balkans. It has extended its geographical area of intervention, as recently in Afghanistan.

The allies may also do so elsewhere, agreeing on the political appropriateness and the assets they need to devote to such operations.

It is with this in view that the Alliance embarked on a process of structural reform.

So as to be able to fulfil missions more effectively, it has inter alia increased the flexibility of its command structures and communications and transport capabilities. France is playing a very active part in this transformation of the Alliance. She is a major contributor to the NATO Response Force. From this September, French generals will be commanding the two current NATO operations: KFOR in Kosovo and ISAF in Afghanistan. By putting a lot of effort into the Alliance's modernization, France is establishing herself as one of the organization's major players.

Contrary to what some may have said, building Defense Europe is not contrary to the interests of NATO, quite the reverse.

Development of the European Security and Defense Policy is beneficial to both Europe and the Alliance.

It helps in the fulfilment of a duty to our fellow citizens, threatened at home and abroad. It helps fulfil our ambition to become an indispensable centre of influence in the multipolar world, it must be able to make its voice heeded.

Defense Europe must give itself the capabilities for action.

The ESDP has made enormous progress over the past two years, both on the external operations front and at institutional level. It's even the area in which cooperation between the EU member States is growing the fastest.

Today we must resolutely implement the political guidelines defined over the past few months. I'm thinking in particular of the European Defense Agency, EU cell for planning and conduct of operations, joint "Battle Groups" [also referred to as "Tactical Groups"] and [European Security and] Defense College.

Thanks to the provisions for structured cooperation, groups of us are to be able, in some cases, to go on ahead. This is what has been done for the project of a European police force. The door nevertheless remains open to all member States wishing to take part in these projects.

We must also make efforts at the budgetary level. We must avoid endangering, in the long term, interoperability with our American allies. France and the United Kingdom are making a significant effort on the equipment front. I sincerely hope all the Europeans will join in this effort.

This progress of the EDSP must help strengthen the Alliance.

The progress of Defense Europe is demonstrating the Europeans' will to shoulder more of their security responsibilities. This is what our American friends have wanted for many years. They are indeed entitled to expect the world's leading economic power to play its role to the full. A more balanced partnership is a guarantee of the Atlantic Alliance's long-term survival.

Europe and America must together confront the present threats, be they related to terrorism, proliferation or regional crises.

The key to success is to ensure the flexibility of the procedures and the complementary nature of the two organizations. Let's not forget that the bulk of military assets are national. These must nevertheless be able to be made available to NATO or the European Union as and when necessary.

When all the Allies want to act together, it's up to the Alliance to lead the operation. When this isn't the case, the European Union must also be able to act, with NATO assets either in the framework of the "Berlin Plus" agreement, or autonomously. The method adopted will depend on the political assessment of the specific situation.

The double enlargement sets the seal on the European family's reunification, and changes the strategic scenario on the continent.

Today, united Europe must speak with a single voice and constitute a serious partner for our allies across the Atlantic. It's with this aim that we intend building a credible European Defense. For this, it's important not to drop our guard and to devote the necessary resources to Defense.

The contribution of the new members to the European Union and to NATO is essential. They have made real efforts to help build the common European security structure. It's a huge ambition, to which Lithuania and France must contribute hand in hand./.