L'Evénement
DE VILLEPIN IN ALGERIA
French minister of foreign affairs Dominique de Villepin spent a quick 24 hour visit in Algiers on December 17. De Villepin and Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika had a long discussion on continuing and deepening the Franco-Algerian relationship since Bouteflika’s visit to France in June 2000. The visit also paves the way for very important bilateral exchanges planned for 2003 when President Chirac will visit Algiers in the spring.
FRANCE HONORS RESERVISTS, SEEKS RISE IN NUMBERS
French Minister of Defense Michèle Alliot-Marie recently announced the first official “National Reservist Day” for November 23. Before the inaugural ceremony in Nancy, she also awarded nine reservists of the region for their participation in operations in Afghanistan. In promoting the celebration, the government hoped to encourage a greater interest and active participation in France’s reserve forces, a wing of the military that includes 42,000 men and women.
FRANCE, POLAND SIGN ‘HISTORICAL’ AGREEMENT
The national archives in both France and Poland concluded an agreement on December 2 that promotes greater cooperation between the two associations. The accord will allow for increased exchange of documents and publications, as well as interns and researchers of history, between the archives of the two nations. Access will be granted equally to anyone interested in obtaining documents ranging from the Middle Ages up to 1945.
PEUGEOT DIES
Pierre Peugeot, chairman of the French automobile company that bears his family name, passed away on December 7th at the age of 70. Peugeot had been an influential part of the family-run company since the mid-1950s. He also is said to have been the driving force behind Peugeot’s refusal to join other companies or sell in the age of global mergers, relying on its strong family links to keep the corporation in private hands.
“Enough Is Enough:” France and Spain Adopt Stricter Oil Tanker Rules
The 15th annual Franco-Spanish summit, held on November 26 in Malaga, Spain, gave President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister José Maria Aznar an opportunity to respond forcefully to the oil spills that have plagued the coasts of their countries. They announced a much tougher inspection regime to keep ships deemed unsafe away from French and Spanish shores.
As of November 27, ships exhibiting “questionable characteristics,” such as being more than 15 years old or single-hulled, were subject to inspections, and potentially to expulsion, from each country’s exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 miles out to sea. This new policy, of French inspiration, applies to all vessels transporting environmentally harmful substances, such as oil or tar.
“We decided enough is enough,” declared Chirac, barely a week after the 26-year-old, single-hulled tanker Prestige sank 133 miles off Galicia and polluted 250 miles of Spanish coastline. A 12,000-ton oil slick continues to threaten French shores in what would be a repetition of the 1999 Erika oil spill which devastated Brittany’s coastline. French authorities are monitoring the situation and preparing for the worst.
Though the summit focused on maritime security, other issues were also raised, including the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration, cross-Pyrenees links, and the construction of Europe. Chirac called the meeting of minds “excellent” and proclaimed that “as Europe expands and adapts, Spain and France have decided to stand side by side.”
Increased Aid to Developing Countries
Prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin’s government undertook a plan on December 11 to increase financial assistance to developing countries. Aid for development will represent 0.5 percent of France’s GDP starting in 2007. During the last meeting of the Interministerial committee for international cooperation and development, Raffarin promised that the figure would reach 0.7 percent of GDP within 10 years.
Financial support for development currently represents 5.5 billion euros for 2002, which is equivalent to 0.32 percent of GDP. Thanks to the funds allocated in the 2003 budget, aid will reach 6.1 billion euros next year.
In addition, Raffarin and nine other ministers have decided to encourage, at a local level, the development of cooperation projects between industrialized and developing countries.
Bearing this in mind Delegate Minister for Cooperation, Pierre-Andre Wiltzer, will organize a consultative meeting with local elected officials. A national decentralization committee meeting, in which the Prime Minister is expected to participate, will follow in early 2003. Future cooperation projects will be facilitated by simplified government financing procedures.
The International Cooperation High Council was created in 1999 to encourage and stimulate decentralized cooperation. This organization is composed of 60 members and encourages dialogue between the government and the civil society over the country’s international aid policy.