French optimistic over plan for EU defence pool

On 1-2 October 2008, the 27 Defence Ministers of the European Union met in Deauville to discuss the EU’s military operations and the military material with which the EU countries should equip themselves. Article reports that France said it had seen a 'very constructive attitude' from European Union member states to demands that EU governments pool their scarce defence resources in order to enhance the bloc's common military capability.

Council of the European Union: Press Release: S324/08: Summary of remarks by EU HR Javier Solana at the informal meeting of EU defence ministers http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/discours/103164.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release: S323/08: Summary of remarks by EU HR Javier SOLANA at the informal meeting of EU defence ministers http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/discours/103159.pdf

Deutsche Welle, 2.10.08: France Urges EU States to Pool Security Resources http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3687063,00.html

France: EU Presidency, 1.10.08: Informal meeting of the defence ministers: focus on the reinforcement of military capabilities http://www.ue2008.fr/PFUE/lang/en/accueil/PFUE-10_2008/PFUE-01.10.2008/reunion_informelle_des_ministres_de_la_defense

Deutsche Welle, 1.10.08: France Presses EU to Revamp Defense Structures http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3683351,00.html

France: EU Presidency, 2.10.08: Informal meeting of the defence ministers: significant advances on several dossiers http://www.eu2008.fr/PFUE/lang/en/accueil/PFUE-10_2008/PFUE-02.10.2008/reunion_informelle_des_ministres_de_la_defense_avancees_significatives.html

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