Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Defence and Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) met on 26 March to discuss French participation in EDA projects as well as preparations of the European Council discussion on defence in June 2015.
“The European Defence Agency has an essential role to play for enabling defence cooperation in Europe and facilitating synergies with EU policies. EDA has a key role to play for example in the preparation and implementation of the CSDP-related Preparatory Action. I welcome the work achieved to set up a multinational fleet of tankers, and the activities pursued in air traffic insertion in support of the MALE RPAS programme we run together with Germany and Italy. France will fully support the new EDA Chief Executive in his duty”, said the French Minister of Defence.
“The European Defence Agency is an instrument at the service of Member States. We support them in filling pressing capability shortfalls, in coordinating research and technology on a European level and we ensure that military interests are taken into account in wider EU policies such as Single European Sky. I am committed to answering to the expectations set by Member States and to avoid duplication of efforts. Our key priority is the preparation of the European Council next June, which should give a boost to defence cooperation and to defence industry across Europe”, said Jorge Domecq during the meeting with Minister Le Drian.
The visit is part of a series of visits by Mr. Domecq to all EDA Member States following his appointment as EDA Chief Executive and ahead of the Ministerial Steering Board on 18 May 2015. So far, Mr. Domecq visited Spain, Lithuania, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Ireland.
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