23.11.2012.
Cooperation with France in the field of defence
State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Aleksandar Nikolic talked with the Ambassador of the Republic of France to Serbia François-Xavier Deniau.State Secretary Nikolic introduced the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the strategic orientation of the Republic of Serbia in the process of European integration, foreign policy priorities and the Government's measures to fight organized crime and systemic corruption.
Bilateral defence cooperation with the Republic of France is an intense one and follows a constantly rising trend. The existence of a legal framework for cooperation which includes an agreement on strategic partnership and cooperation between the governments of Serbia and France, and an agreement on defence cooperation between the two defence ministries, provides opportunities for further promotion of the cooperation.
Focal areas of defence cooperation are military education, joint training and participation in multinational operations under the auspices of the EU, military economic and scientific-technical cooperation.
From the very beginning, the Republic of Serbia is unequivocally oriented to participating in the European Union crisis management operations together with the Republic of France. The proof for that is completed engagement of a Serbian Armed Forces officer onboard the French warship during 2012, which was also the Command ship in ATALANTA Operation.Ambassador Deniau agreed that the defence cooperation is quite developed. France sees Serbia as a key partner in the region and supports it in the process of the European integration.
In the forthcoming period there is a possibility to expand the cooperation through activities and projects of the European Defence Agency, in which France is a prominent member, as well as joint participation in the activities of the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy.
