Conclusion of the Franco-German Defence and Security Council.

• In a radically changed security environment, Germany and France are more determined than ever to defend peace and security in Europe and the broader Euro-Atlantic area. Based on the strong bond of Franco-German friendship and together with our Allies and partners we will ensure that our ability to deter and defend remains credible at all times and against any potential adversary
   
• France and Germany stress that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is threatening European security. France and Germany are determined to continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes and as intensively as needed, through bilateral and multilateral channels, in particular the European Union, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and other fora, including initiatives such as the 26 February Paris conference on Ukraine, the Initiative for Immediate Action on Air Defence and the Ukraine Recovery Conference on 11-12 June in Berlin. They will continue to coordinate closely their military support to Ukraine, aiming to provide Ukraine with the necessary capabilities to defend itself, restore its territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders and secure its free and democratic future. 
   
• France and Germany are strongly committed to effectively strengthen European and broader Euro-Atlantic security, notably through strong and credible European defence capabilities. The European Union must become a true geopolitical actor and security provider, able to respond to today’s security challenges and strengthen the international order. France and Germany are committed to better and faster production in Europe, and will discuss how this could be further supported by the development of useful long-term instruments and strategies. France and Germany will continue to contribute to the discussion on developing the European defence industry, fill strategic gaps and reduce technological and industrial dependencies. By strengthening the European defence technological and industrial base we will increase our overall defence readiness and provide capabilities to match our needs and ambition in the context of rising threats and security challenges.
   
• Strengthening European defence capabilities will contribute to a stronger European pillar of NATO, which is the foundation of our collective defense, and to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. A stronger and more capable European defence will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security. Also in this regard we intend to increasingly use existing formats such as the Weimar Triangle.
   
• To strengthen their collective defense, France and Germany will remain strongly committed to ensure the executability of NATO’s defence plans and to provide their respective shares of the capabilities required by the NATO Defence Planning Process. In light of the threat posed by Russia, France and Germany will continue to strengthen their commitment and engagement on the Eastern Flank, including a potential integration of the Franco-German Brigade into NATO planning.
   
• We agree that the EU must be enabled to act more effectively and more rapidly. To this end, France and Germany will work together with other Member States and the EEAS to fully operationalize the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity by 2025, to provide the necessary contributions of their forces and capabilities.
   
• Our broad and profound cooperation between our land, air and maritime forces is the driver to ensure more compatibility and interoperability of our capabilities, especially via the integrated military cooperation, such as the Franco-German Brigade, the Binational Air Transport Squadron in Evreux or the Franco-German naval group.
   
• Germany and France recall the essential role of nuclear deterrence for the security of Europe and NATO and the deterrent role of the independent strategic French nuclear forces and its significant contribution to the overall security of the Alliance. We recognize that our deterrence and defence posture is based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities, complemented by space and cyber capabilities. France and Germany will, together with partners, undertake a long-term, comprehensive and inclusive cooperation in the field of long-range strikes, which entails strengthening the European defence industrial base in order to improve our military capabilities.
   
• France and Germany are committed to converge their security and defence objectives and strategies even further and will reinforce their consultations on strategic analysis and cooperation decisions, including in trilateral format of Chancellery/Elysée, Foreign and Defense ministries.
   
• France and Germany welcome the significant progress achieved on the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) program as illustrated by the 26th April agreement by the two Ministers of Defence. We are determined to notify the first contract of the MGCS program by the end of January 2025.
   
• France and Germany underline the significant progress made on the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS) program, together with Spain and are preparing an evaluation of the current program phase in the perspective of the transition to phase 2 in 2025.
   
• France and Germany will further improve and strengthen Franco-German cooperation in the armament field and build on current cooperation experience regarding industrial and defence capabilities.
   
• France and Germany remain fully committed to the agreement on export controls, extended to Spain in 2021, and are determined to continue their intensive cooperation regarding the exportability of joint projects.

A French-German initiative to boost growth in Europe.

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