French MPs seek to outline European defence strategy

The president of the foreign affairs committee of the French Parliament has drafted a report urging the EU members states to pool resources for military capacities and help build a single EU defence policy.

Spiegel Online International reported on the 11 December 2013 that economic prudence had yet to reach defence policy, with Europe's citizens footing a bill of at least €26 billion a year. Whenever a major contract is in the offing somewhere in the world, the European nations compete against one another. But when they are the ones procuring military equipment, they isolate themselves and ignore all rules of reason and the market in the interest of protecting the domestic defense industry.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU common defense strategy still long way off http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-common-defense-strategy-still-long-way-off/

ESO: Background information: EU ministers discuss deployment of drones http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-ministers-discuss-deployment-of-drones/

ESO: Background information: Towards a more competitive and efficient European defence and security sector http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-towards-a-more-competitive-and-efficient-european-defence-and-security-sector/

Spiegel Online International, 11.12.13: Self Defense: Protectionism Rules in EU Arms Industry http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/inefficiency-and-protectionism-rule-european-union-defense-industry-a-938326.html

EUObserver, 18.12.13: Will France squander its lead on European defence? http://euobserver.com/defence/122543

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