30th France-United Kingdom Summit in Evian

On Monday, 6 July 2009 President Sarkozy went to Evian (Haute-Savoie) to take part with Mr Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in the thirtieth France-United Kingdom summit.

The summit was also attended by M. Jean-Louis Borloo, Ministre d’Etat, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Marine Affairs, responsible for Green Technology and Climate Negotiations, M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mme Christine Lagarde, Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment, M. Hervé Morin, Minister of Defence, M. Eric Besson, Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Development and M. Pierre Lellouche, Minister of State responsible for European Affairs, together with their British counterparts.

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 30th France-UK summit – Statements by Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic, during his joint press conference with Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (excerpts)

Evian, 6 July 2009

PITTSBURGH G20

THE PRESIDENT – (…) I must say that the more we work together, the more our two countries see eye to eye. We totally agree that the Pittsburgh Summit has to be ambitious. We don’t want things to go back after the crisis to being how they were before. We, the United Kingdom and France, are asking for the Pittsburgh Summit to be ambitious and for us to get results on regulation. We don’t want Pittsburgh to be less ambitious than the London summit, which the British Prime Minister chaired outstandingly.

AQUILA G8/GLOBAL WARMING

As regards the G8, we’ll both fight for the G8 to set its sights high on development and the battle against global warming. We won’t be satisfied with long-term, very long-term goals. We want medium-term goals so we can be sure they are credible.

UNEO/CARBON TAX

I was also very pleased to talk to Gordon Brown about the world environment organization. I think I can say, at any rate on the principle, that he supports this proposal and that we’re going to work together on environmental taxation, on the carbon tax.

WTO

I said to Gordon Brown that obviously we wanted an agreement at the WTO, that we didn’t want protectionism but that we wanted fair competition, not unfair competition. On both these points, I think I can say that our views are identical.

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

We’re also determined to get things moving on every aspect of global governance: the IMF, Security Council and G20.

IRAN

We talked about many other bilateral matters: nuclear issues, defence cooperation. In fact I’m taking advantage of this conference – and the two Foreign Ministers will correct me if I’m wrong – to say that we stand totally shoulder to shoulder with our British friends vis-à-vis the Iranian leaders and that they can count on our total solidarity. We will do what they wish and were particularly shocked by the very unfair, disproportionate attacks against the British government. Really, the Iranian people deserve better than the leadership they have today. I want to say this again in the clearest way possible. (…)

(…)

VAT/NATIONAL BOND/ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT COMMISSION

Q. – A question for President Sarkozy on VAT. You were critical of Britain’s cut in VAT a little earlier – are you still critical of that measure?

(…)

THE PRESIDENT – (…) We can’t let ourselves have several years of feeble growth. (…) I share Gordon Brown’s view that we need an even stronger economic strategy in Europe with greater coordination. Of course, we have to tackle the debt, of course we have to tackle the deficits, but we’ll tackle the debt and the deficits by bringing back growth and making operating expenditure savings; that’s perfectly obvious. If growth doesn’t return we won’t be able to rebalance the books. So yes, we both have to push countries which can do so to do more.

As for France, what’s our problem? And I’ll answer your question on VAT. Demand is holding up in France, investment is falling. What is the French government’s strategy? Unlike that of our British friends, it’s to do the utmost to get investment to pick up again. It’s not for me to pass judgement. My comment: the French socialist party had asked me to take the same initiative as the British government, but I had pointed out that what was good for the British economy wasn’t necessarily right for the French economy. With rising consumption, I didn’t see why I had to cut VAT on all products. By contrast, we’ve got around a 7% reduction in investment, so we focussed everything on investment.

Moreover, I’m very happy to tell you that, as regards the national bond we’re going to issue to finance the major investment programmes for France’s future, the commission tasked with determining the [priority] strategic sectors will be headed by two extremely talented people. I am very grateful to both for accepting: Michel Rocard who is a man I greatly admire and shows that the French government’s policy of openness [drawing on both sides of the political spectrum] definitely won’t stop, because France needs to direct all her energies and mobilize all her talents in such a serious situation. (…) I am very grateful to Alain Juppé, who was prime minister under Jacques Chirac, for also bringing his sharp mind and talent to the task. (…) It must be reassuring for the French to see that there are men capable of rising above their party interests to think about the right long-term choice our country has to make on economic and investment strategy. (…) They will deliver their conclusions to me in November. (…)

(…)

FINANCIAL REGULATION/TAX HAVENS

Q. – President Sarkozy, you talk of a need for the G8 to set medium-term goals. Are you suggesting then that some countries haven’t taken their responsibilities seriously enough after the G20?

THE PRESIDENT – I think that genuinely in London, very strong progress was made, but Gordon Brown thinks, as I do, that those who imagine that after the crisis they will be able once again to go about their business as before, we will stand in their way. We won’t accept a return to the situation we had before.

I’m going to take an example: on the tax havens, headway is being made; they have after all realized what a close shave they’d had; they have moved from the black list to the grey list. They have to get off the grey list, i.e. in concrete terms, tax transparency conventions now have to be signed.

Secondly, remuneration. Those crazy salaries and bonuses, the more people speculated the more they were paid. That’s not going to start again, it won’t be tolerated. Because those trading rooms where traders were paid incredible amounts of money for taking what were incredible risks, that’s over. That’s not what we think the market economy and capitalism should be. We don’t want any of that. If some banks want to start paying again like that, then we will take far more robust measures. (…)

Thirdly (…), there’s the problem of the economy full stop. There are an enormous number of things to do and we want to implement them. We want Pittsburgh to have goals as ambitious as London’s.

And since around the table not all countries are as enthusiastic for the change, the United Kingdom and France are working hand in hand to push for it. I realize this is new, but that’s how it is. I’m very grateful to Gordon Brown, particularly at the last European Council, for supporting European regulation. Everyone has to make an effort. France must make an effort, the United Kingdom is making an effort, and together we are carrying a message. Europe has to be present in the debate on the new global capitalism. With Angela Merkel, Gordon Brown and a number of others, we are trying to ensure that a European model prevails. No one is giving up their convictions. (…)

GLOBAL WARMING/GREEN TAXATION

Q. – On climate change I’m going to put a question you might find a little simplistic, but I’ll put it anyway. By coming here rather than to London or Paris to convene the summit, you’ve generated a carbon footprint. What are you going to do to counterbalance that? (…) In the struggle against climate change, should it not be up to the governments to set the example perhaps by not organizing a summit in Paris and London, but by other gestures?

(…)

THE PRESIDENT – (…) The British already have environmental taxation. We are going to give ourselves, with Jean-Louis Borloo and Christine Lagarde, an energy-climate contribution [carbon tax]. Do you think we can do without this exchange of information?

On Friday I was in Sweden. The Swedes have environmental taxation. I need to understand what the British are doing, what the Swedes are doing. Should we reinvent the wheel and invent something else? Or should we harmonize things? So you can say: “why have they come here?” We came here first of all because it’s a very beautiful place – I thank the mayor, because I was scheduled to come here with the Ukrainian President a few months ago and had to cancel at the last moment because of the crisis in Georgia.

It’s extremely important for us to get our countries to take the lead in the battle. Why? Because on domestic environmental taxation in our countries, the carbon tax question – Peter Mandelson will correct me if I’m wrong – we are also bringing our positions closer. As the WTO has just said on the carbon tax, we will be able to put a carbon tax on Europe’s border only if there’s energy-climate contribution in each of our countries, first point. They are doing it, we’re going to try and do likewise. Second point: I’ve got to convince my British friends that France doesn’t want to be protectionist, but wants fair competition. When I propose in Geneva – sorry about my carbon footprint! – a world environment organization, I need to explain to Gordon Brown what I have in mind. And when he says: “yes, I’ve understood, I agree on the principle”, don’t you think that does a lot for world balance? For the fight against climate change? You think it’s enough for me to pick up the phone! With things like that we have to talk about them.

(…)

OIL PRICE

Q. – A question on the oil price. (…) You talked, President Sarkozy, about bringing it up at the G8, about perhaps capping the price or bringing in an oil price range. (…)

THE PRESIDENT – We’ll very soon be publishing a contribution on this subject. We think it isn’t sensible to let speculators artificially push up the price of fossil energy. We also think it isn’t sensible to applaud an energy price which is too low, first of all because that could distract us from the necessity of saving energy. Secondly, working with the fossil-energy-producing countries, we have to try and stabilize, as Gordon Brown put it very well, the price within an acceptable price range, neither too high, nor too low. The world won’t recover from these yo-yo fluctuations from one excess to another. This is why, here too, States must regain control to try and bring in transparency and regulation.

Thank you everyone./.

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 30th France-UK summit – Declaration on international climate negotiations¹

Evian, 6 July 2009

France and the United Kingdom call for international action commensurate with the challenges expressed by IPCC scientists. Limiting the temperature increase to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels is an absolute imperative. The planet’s future is at stake.

We call for an ambitious global agreement not only on cutting CO2 emissions in Copenhagen in December 2009, but also on solidarity with the most vulnerable countries in order to deal with the climate change under way today. The G8 meeting and Major Economies Forum on 8 and 9 July in L’Aquila will be milestones: they will test our determination to grasp the scale of the changes needed to address the challenge of global warming.

France and the United Kingdom ask all the industrialized countries to approve a target of cutting their greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Our two countries also ask for the adoption of an ambitious, credible intermediate target for 2020, in line with what the science is telling us: i.e. a 25-40% reduction compared to 1990. Developed countries’ efforts must be comparable with that of the European Union and consistent with a convergence of each country’s emissions per capita, towards a target of 2 tonnes per capita in 2050. In addition to the efforts to reduce domestic emissions, the fight against deforestation, a priority for both our countries, is an important means of achieving our objectives. We call on the industrialized countries to increase forestry investment.

By taking on this leadership according to the United Nations Convention’s principle of “common but differentiated responsibility”, developed countries will be able to ask the big emerging country members of the Major Economies Forum to make their own contribution to the unprecedented effort demanded today. France and the United Kingdom call on them to approve a global target of cutting carbon emissions by 50 % below 1990 levels by 2050. The most industrialized countries will have to be ready to increase their technological cooperation with these countries so that the latter can speed up implementation of what, in some cases, are already very ambitious national low-carbon development strategies.

France and the United Kingdom recognize the magnitude of the financial needs to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. The bulk of the financial needs will have to be met by private-sector investment steered by economic incentive instruments in every country in the world. The carbon market will therefore play a central role in driving down emissions at least cost. There must eventually be a price on emissions in all the world’s countries to be paid by the emitters in the involved countries. In the meantime, we are ready to contribute our fair share of public finance for mitigation, technology, forestry and adaptation.

The post-2012 financial architecture will need to be able to provide a predictable source of finance to meet these needs and provide developing countries with the assurance they require. We underline the need for every country in the world to participate in financing, with the exception of the poorest countries. In this respect we support the Mexican proposal for a dynamic scale to determine these contributions based on their emissions and ability to pay, as a method to raise finance for climate change within an ambitious Copenhagen agreement. We will consider the implementation of other approaches compatible with the Mexican proposal, such as that proposed by Norway, as methods to raise finance to combat climate change.

We recognize the need for a new international financing architecture which is equitable, efficient, effective and can deliver finance at sufficient scale, where it is needed most, and according to national priorities. We are determined to reform the financial architecture to this end and stress that a single mechanism will not be capable of meeting all the needs, and therefore stronger coordination and coherence for both actions and financing is required. Post 2012 financing mechanisms should draw on existing and reformed institutions and should allow for the delivery of finance at scale to developing countries on the basis of country owned national development strategies. We are keen to involve bilateral players more closely in this process.

Deforestation and sustainable forest management are major challenges and forestry should to become part of the carbon trading market in a bid to prevent deforestation and degradation. In the near term, finance will be required to fund capacity-building, alternative livelihoods and early action to avoid deforestation.

France and the United Kingdom call for greater cooperation with the poorest countries to help them adapt to climate change. Our two countries will work with others to support African ministers’ programmes in the water, energy and agricultural sectors.

¹ Source of English text: 10 Downing Street website.

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 30th France-UK summit – Declaration on immigration¹

Evian, 6 July 2009

The situation on the Channel and North Sea coast of France is of concern due to the continued migratory pressure resulting from the presence of significant numbers of irregular migrants attempting to reach British territory.

The consequences of this situation in French port towns with sea links with the United Kingdom, especially in security and humanitarian terms, call for a determined, mutually supportive effort by France and the United Kingdom, in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation based on shared interest.

The French and British governments solemnly reaffirm their commitment to combating illegal immigration, which is a challenge for both countries and the entire European Union.

The responsibility of France and the United Kingdom in this field derives from the bilateral relationship between the two countries, but also reflects their obligations within the European Union. In this regard, the French and British governments are mindful of their commitment to implement the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, by taking the necessary measures at national level, seeking all possible forms of bilateral cooperation and encouraging the most effective use of all European legislative and operational instruments.

1) At national level, the French and British governments reaffirm their intention to take resolute action to reduce the pull factors for illegal immigrants and the criminal networks, especially by striving to eliminate undeclared work on their territory, which cannot be tolerated in any way, and by determinedly implementing policies for returning migrants, through voluntary and enforced means, to their countries of origin.

2) At bilateral level, the French and British governments undertake to:

Effect a significant increase in enforced returns and reintegration of illegal migrants to their countries of origin or transit, including: national programmes for effecting significant numbers of enforced returns of key nationalities; joint returns activity as appropriate; and exchanging best practice and expertise, including the negotiation of readmission agreements.

Systematize operational coordination in action against illegal immigration networks, especially by exchanging information, conducting joint cross-channel police operations, and working together upstream in Europe and countries of source and transit. A joint intelligence centre charged with the exchange and operational use of information and intelligence, and the coordination of its tasking, will be established in Kent (United Kingdom) with a view to becoming operational by August 2009.

Develop joint programmes to implement significant numbers of voluntary returns and provide dissuasive information for migrants in their countries of origin or transit.

Engage in joint diplomatic action in pursuit of the above bilateral activity.

3) At European level, the French and British governments will act together to:

Promote a European policy, in accordance with the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, of firmness and solidarity based on the determined commitment of member countries of the European Union to combat illegal immigration and the criminal networks that organize it and exploit migrants, as well as to construct a Europe of asylum.

Strengthen the operational role of Frontex, in the spirit of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, especially through developing operational cooperation between Frontex and third countries, establishing joint European return flights and ensuring adequate resources.

Coordinate their positions when negotiating the “asylum package”, which is to constitute the basis of the common European asylum system, with the aim of increasing practical cooperation via the European asylum support office, and ensuring protection for those in need.

Initiate innovative forms of cooperation between the European Union, transit countries and the High Commissioner for Refugees, by building on the EU’s Regional Protection Programmes.

In the spirit of European solidarity, and under the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, assist those European countries most affected by migratory pressure.

Develop cooperation with third countries, of origin or transit, and with a specific focus on key North and West African countries, including through codevelopment and capacity-building measures as well as conclusion and implementation of readmission agreements, within the Global Approach to Migration that represents the European Union’s roadmap according to the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum.

4) The French and British governments will also strengthen security at their shared border, particularly with a view to making it impervious to illegal immigrants and immigration networks, by:

Putting in place the latest and most appropriate technology, as well as the most efficient and systematic forms of coordination, in the context of a fair sharing of all operational activity and costs.

Strengthening their joint control arrangements at the ports and stations serving the other country, building on existing bilateral obligations and any new future requirements.

Evaluating together the development of migratory threats and routes, including considering the possible future need for new joint controls.

Supporting, if necessary, the relocation of UK Border Agency staff to Northern France to deliver increased efficiency of staffing of controls at the shared border.

The administrative arrangement signed today by the Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Codevelopment, for the French government, and by the Home Office Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, for the British government, establishes the conditions for strengthening the common border.

¹ Source of English text: 10 Downing Street website.

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 30th France-UK summit – Declaration on defence and security¹

Evian, 6 July 2009

As permanent members of the UN Security Council, we are committed to act together to resolve crises and preserve peace and security worldwide. We are confronted by the same challenges and our strategic interests are very close and interrelated. A common response is key to overcoming these challenges to our security and to the security of our partners and Allies.

We direct our Ministries and Agencies to work together in the following areas:

Operations

Since our last Summit, crises have increased in number and diversity. Together, France and the UK have an essential role to help tackle these crises through political, military and civilian means, through the UN, NATO and the EU.

Afghanistan: we are both engaged, alongside our Allies, in Afghanistan. We are both working to support Pakistan in countering the threat of terrorism extremism. Instability in the region is a primary challenge for world security and a priority for our two countries.

• To prevent al-Qaida from re-establishing a safe haven in Afghanistan, we are supporting good governance in the country and the development and training of Afghan National Security Forces. In this endeavour, we will stay as long as necessary. Our immediate priority is to help enable a successful Presidential election later this year. We are also working to improve the international and European assistance coordination mechanisms in Afghanistan. • We are also providing support to Pakistan in its campaign against terrorism and extremism and intend to hold a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan in September, to demonstrate international support for Pakistan. Piracy: France and the UK have shown leadership in combating the scourge of piracy and we welcome the role of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia in coordinating international action. We are proud of the achievements of the EU counter-piracy operation Atalanta, launched last December and led by the UK with strong French naval participation. The UK has offered to continue to lead Atalanta until the end of 2010 and plans to commit a further frigate to this operation next year. France will continue to provide naval assets.

• The EU’s first naval operation has ensured the safe delivery of World Food Programme aid to Somalia and reduced significantly the number of successful attacks on ships in the critical international trade artery of the Gulf of Aden. • Atalanta has coordinated its operations closely and effectively with NATO and Combined Maritime Forces operations, as well as with the ships of many other countries. We welcome the close cooperation which has been achieved with the shipping and fishing industries, which is essential to minimizing the risks of pirate attack. • We are determined to support the development of the capacities of regional countries to combat piracy, including within Somalia. We pay tribute to the leadership being shown by Kenya in bringing pirates to justice, and welcome future arrangements with the Seychelles. We call on our EU and other international partners to provide increased resources for further action, including military assets. • Promoting stabilization of Somalia itself is important to counter the piracy threat, prevent terrorism and improve the lives of the Somali people. We endorse the need for security sector reform and look forward to agreed proposals from the TFG and UN that will enable effective international support, building on the initial steps on training security forces taken by France in Djibouti. Kosovo: after ten years of presence, NATO Allies have succeeded in establishing a secure environment, allowing a phased reduction of our troops. The EU will continue to contribute to the stability of Kosovo through her assistance and through the civilian mission EULEX.

Middle East Peace Process: together with the US, France and the UK are committed to helping Israel and Palestinians reach a comprehensive settlement. We will work together, and with partners, on plans for an international peace-keeping operation in case it is required. We will also work on how Europe might support implementation in other areas.

DRC: we will continue to work together to promote stability in DRC by assisting on Security Sector Reform (SSR), including through the ongoing EU operation EUSEC, supporting the DRC Government’s efforts to provide security and to tackle illegal militias, notably the FDLR.

In order to improve our cooperation for operations, and to provide mutual support overseas, we have agreed procedures to make use of facilities at each other’s overseas bases if required.

The British-French cooperation initiative on European carrier group interoperability, launched in London in March 2008, is well on track, with 9 participating Nations. A first joint exercise is to take place this year.

On helicopters, we have also agreed to develop options for the joint training and sharing of best practice for the benefit of the effectiveness of these forces including potentially preparation for operations.

European security, defence and NATO

European security: recent crisis and tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region have shown that it is now crucial to improve security arrangements on our continent. We reaffirm our desire for a strong European security framework, based on existing institutions including EU and NATO and the OSCE. Our goal is a strong trans-Atlantic relationship and improved relations with Russia, allowing greater confidence and cooperation. We call for respect and full implementation of the OSCE principles and international commitments already made. We reaffirm our support for the territorial integrity of Georgia and urge Russia to comply with its commitments and all concerned to participate constructively in the Geneva talks. We see security as a broad agenda, stretching across all three dimensions of the OSCE, security and arms control, human and economic. We stress that while our nations must ensure security and stability on our own continent, a number of current security challenges such as terrorism and proliferation stem from further afield. It is the common responsibility of all nations in the Euro-Atlantic area to protect the security of our continent from these threats. The Ministerial meeting in Corfu on 27-28 June provided a fresh impetus for that endeavour.

ESDP: we both want a strong Europe, capable of delivering security worldwide. UK support to the French EU Presidency has been paramount to its success. We are determined to implement the ambitious defence and security programme agreed at the December 2008 European Council, including improving military and civilian capabilities and delivering Europe’s level of ambition through the contribution of States. We support the Swedish EU presidency and upcoming presidencies in this respect. We call on Europeans to take a greater share of responsibility in providing for our security.

In a difficult budgetary context we need, more than ever, to cooperate more closely to make better use of our assets and to develop military capabilities which reinforce both the EU and the Atlantic Alliance.

In this regard:

• We will support innovative ways to improve European capabilities, including methods to pool and share military and civilian capabilities. • We will support further development of EU crisis management capabilities in a renewed spirit, including the new civil/military organization for planning of ESDP operations and missions. • We recognize the importance of flexible and rapidly deployable forces, including EU Battlegroups and the NATO Response Force, • We will work together to improve the EU’s capability to deploy civilians overseas and call on our European partners to develop their national capacities to provide high quality civilian experts for international missions. The development of European capabilities contributes to strengthening both ESDP and the Atlantic Alliance.

NATO: the UK warmly welcomes France’s full participation in NATO military structure, which provides an opportunity for reforming NATO and strengthening our Alliance.

We praise Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for his dedicated work in service of Euro-Atlantic security. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the next NATO Secretary General, can count on our full support to make NATO a stronger, leaner and more effective organization.

The preparation of a revised Strategic Concept provides an opportunity to renovate NATO to make it efficient and fit for twenty-first century challenges.

France and the UK will work together to:

• Foster delivery of effective capabilities to meet force generation requirements. • Streamline NATO HQ and military command structure. • Build on HQ reform work to develop better mechanisms for scrutiny and accountability. • Improve and develop NATO/EU relations, openness and cooperation. Industrial cooperation

France and the UK are the two largest European investors in defence. We will continue to broaden and deepen our defence industrial cooperation, including through the European Defence Agency (EDA) and EU Capability Development Plan in the following areas:

• Complex weapons, through the Scalp/Storm Shadow enhancement programme. • Development of a new Future Anti Surface Missile/Anti-Navire Léger. • Preparation together of the next generation of military communications satellites, including signature of a Statement of Intent. • Acceleration of armament procurement and improvement of equipment to answer urgent operational requirements for our Armed Forces, including signature of a Statement of Intent. • Foster regular exchanges on lessons learned and exchanges of personnel between the two procurement organizations. • In the mid to long-term, assess the scope for collaboration on Unmanned Air Vehicles (ISTAR and UCAS Combat system), by undertaking a detailed joint study to map out the key elements of any collaborative programmes and establishing concrete discussions between our industries It is our common and strategic interest to sustain and develop industrial and technological skills in Europe. Research and technology (R&T) is critical and the UK and France play a leading role in Europe in investing in this area. To this end:

• We support the objective to increase R&T investment in 2010. • We are determined to support innovation and expertise through appropriate EDA initiatives. • We will facilitate cross-investment and identify appropriate rules for the control of exports and exchange of classified data. We reiterate our full support to the Anglo-French High Level Working Group on defence acquisition. This group is the right vehicle to propose joint projects, innovative solutions and foster dialogue to develop defence capabilities. It is also looking at how jointly we can facilitate bilateral cross-channel and wider business for companies operating both in the UK and France through more flexible and coordinated operation of national export licensing systems.

France and the United Kingdom are also committed to finding a positive outcome for the renegotiation of the A400M programme. The A400M will meet the capability needs of its client countries’ armed forces and offer outstanding performance. The principle behind this renegotiation is that the company bear the consequences of the programme delays and contribute to compensating for the resulting capability deficit. The two governments are open, on the basis of these principles, to amendments allowing the pursuit of the programme under reasonable conditions.

Non-proliferation, deterrence and disarmament

• Together, we agree on the vital importance of enhancing the global security of nuclear materials and preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and their means of delivery. Further developing proliferation resistant nuclear fuel cycle technologies is essential and we agree to push forward work in this area. We shall also work closely in preparing for the 2010 NPT Review conference, which provides a further opportunity to agree important advances on the three pillars: non proliferation, peaceful uses and disarmament. • We are united in our determination not to allow Iran to gain access to nuclear weapon capabilities. This would constitute a threat to international peace and security. We stand by those in the region who would feel threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. It is our hope that Iran will choose cooperation rather than isolation and engage with the international community to restore full confidence. We welcome the US engagement in this respect. Should Iran continue to refuse to abide by its international obligations, we will support further measures to isolate the regime and disrupt their efforts to develop nuclear and missile related capabilities. • In addition, we firmly condemn the nuclear test announced by North Korea and its launches involving missile related technologies, and call upon it to comply with the Security Council resolutions demanding the complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantling of its nuclear programmes. Strengthen our bilateral dialogue on nuclear deterrence, a core element of our national and Allied defence strategies. We reaffirm that our independent nuclear deterrents:

Are strictly for defensive purposes, to deter any threats posed to our vital interests;

• It is difficult to envisage a situation in which the vital interest of either of our two nations could be threatened without the vital interest of the other also being threatened; • We will continue to maintain only a minimum nuclear capability, consistent with the strategic and security context and our commitments under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty; our nuclear forces contribute to European security as a whole. • As expressed in the Declaration on Alliance Security, adopted in Strasbourg on 4 April, deterrence, based on an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional capabilities, will remain a core element of NATO’s strategy. Promote arms control and disarmament. Our two countries are setting an example and share similar ambitions in terms of arms control and disarmament, notably in the nuclear sphere.

We are all committed to seeking a safer world. We call on all states concerned to take the bold measures we have already taken, consistent with Article 6 of the NPT.

We will promote the European Action Plan on Disarmament adopted by the EU Council in December 2008, in particular at the 2010 NPT Review conference.

• We welcome and support the commitment by the US and Russia to conclude, by the end of the year, a Treaty on the reduction of their strategic nuclear arsenals, which represent 95% of the global stockpiles. • We support the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by the US as proposed by President Obama and call on other nuclear-armed nations to sign and ratify it swiftly. • We welcome and will actively participate in the international negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on a Treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons, with a view to achieving such a ban swiftly. In the meantime, we urge all states concerned to implement a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. France and the UK have already declared such a moratorium. Work together to cope with the threats emerging in the fields of cybersecurity, space security, energy infrastructures and transport security and missiles.

Work together to establish an Arms trade treaty putting in place common standards for international commerce of conventional weapons.

Counter-terrorism

We are determined to continue to safeguard our national interests against the threat from terrorism, working both domestically and overseas to improve security further and ensure our citizens can go about their lives freely and with confidence. We commit to:

• Continuing to maintain high level operational coordination. • High level, strategic working groups to focus on broader counter-terrorism strategies and methods. • Continuing work together in Afghanistan and Pakistan on terrorist networks connecting to Europe other regions and on our concern at the growing threat from al-Qaida in the Maghreb, Sahel and other African countries concerned. • Strengthen our joint work on reducing the threat from nuclear terrorism./.

¹ Source of English text: 10 Downing Street website.

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 30th France-UK summit – Declaration on nuclear energy¹

Evian, 6 July 2009

The European Union needs to take action to improve our resilience to disruptions of energy supplies, and to ensure stable and secure supplies for citizens. In this regard France and the United Kingdom acknowledge the importance of increasing the diversity of our energy supplies – both the types of energy and the sources and routes of its supply.

France and the United Kingdom recognize the important role nuclear energy has to play in meeting the energy challenges of our time. Use of nuclear power, a low-carbon energy source, greatly reduces the production of greenhouse gases. It also contributes to ensuring the security of energy supply in the face of the ever-growing scarcity of global fossil resources in the world.

France and the United Kingdom reaffirm that the peaceful use of nuclear energy must take place in compliance with the strictest standards of safety, non-proliferation and protection of the environment for future generations, particularly vis-à-vis management of radioactive waste.

France opted for nuclear energy over 30 years ago and the United Kingdom has just decided to reactivate a nuclear electricity generation programme. France and the United Kingdom are determined to develop an in-depth partnership for the development of nuclear energy in both countries. The two countries welcome the close collaboration between the French and British public authorities, particularly on managing radioactive waste and on R&D, and between their industries on developing this low-carbon energy, and are determined to pursue and broaden this cooperation.

As regards nuclear safety, France and the United Kingdom are encouraging the two countries’ safety authorities to further develop their already fruitful collaboration, in particular the many institutional contacts and personnel exchanges allowing the sharing of experience. The two countries will consult closely on this subject at the annual bi-lateral Chief Inspector meetings at the annual bi-lateral Chief Inspector meetings at the European level, particularly regarding the Nuclear Safety Directive, and at international level.

Nuclear energy is a sector offering significant career opportunities, provided sufficient training is provided to meet the demand for highly-skilled personnel. France and the United Kingdom reaffirm the necessity of developing significant training capacity for the coming years, as has recently been the case in France with the creation of a Master’s in Nuclear Energy open to international students. The two countries will take joint initiatives to this end./.

¹ Source of English text: 10 Downing Street website.

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 30th France-UK summit – Declaration on promoting a European industrial ambition¹

Evian, 6 July 2009

Europe’s position in global economic competition will depend on its ability to equip its citizens and businesses with the right skills, resources and regulatory environment, and to disseminate innovation. Industrial innovation needs to fall within the framework of a clearly-defined strategy and long-term vision and requires government support. This support and vision will be all the more effective if shared at European Union level. For these reasons, it is more necessary than ever to realize a genuine European industrial ambition. This will seek in particular to meet our societies’ great challenges, such as climate change and health.

The crisis calls for a coordinated response. So France and the United Kingdom are both pursuing an industrial strategy which supports viable businesses and jobs in this tough economic situation while at the same time contributing to modernizing and adapting our industrial fabric, in particular the development and growth of the most promising European SMEs. This strategy must also aim to strengthening sectors in which we excel and at fostering European prosperity, while making sustainable development an essential driver of innovation and the growth of our businesses and economies. It must also enable us to coordinate the different tools and policies for encouraging the development of businesses while taking into account the distinctive features of the different economic sectors. Finally, it must promote universally respected rules at international level and thus allow regulation of global markets.

This common vision is translated at national, bilateral and Community level into the following main initiatives:

France and the United Kingdom reaffirm the importance of the Small Business Act, and call for its full implementation, particularly as regards access to finance and better regulation and access to markets which are the SBA’s top priorities.

France and the United Kingdom, who took action to enable SMEs to have the equity and funding they needed, are pleased that the EIB has already achieved and even exceeded its objectives in the implementation of its €30 billion plan to help SMEs for the period 2008-2011 and are encouraging it to step up this effort. France and the United Kingdom call on the EIB to make available to businesses and critical infrastructure projects additional resources over the next two years, to take on greater risk in its lending activity, and for the procedures to access EU funds to be streamlined for SMEs. At the same time, we welcome the Commission’s intention to reduce all unnecessary burdens on businesses, (in particular SMEs). France and the United Kingdom call for this work to be accelerated, to ensure that all simplification measures are in place as soon as possible, and to ensure that the first €10 billion of savings are implemented as soon as possible before the end of 2010.

To improve SMEs’ cash flow, France and the United Kingdom are committed to the path of reducing delays in payments by public authorities and are keen to see the revision of Directive 2000/35/EC on late payments completed as quickly as possible. France and the United Kingdom are also determined to reduce the time needed to start up a business, with the norm being three working days. For this, they will, by the end of 2009, offer entrepreneurs electronic procedures in the framework of the points of single contact provided for under the Services Directive.

In addition, to allow SMEs to increase their equity, the European capital investment framework must be improved. For this, the listing of SMEs on the Stock Exchange must be facilitated by reducing their reporting requirements. Scrutiny of the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers and revision of the Prospectus, Transparency, and Market Abuse Directives must include a comprehensive debate on a European statute for small and medium-sized businesses. In this respect, better representation of these small and medium-sized companies in the committees revising the directives is very desirable. France and the United Kingdom are keen for one of the objectives of these discussions to be to simplify the procedures, particularly for public procurement, and cut costs for small and medium-sized businesses. Our two countries are encouraging the European Commission to work along these lines. An active market in technology stocks is the prerequisite for the sound development of venture capital.

The United Kingdom and France are supporting at Community level the implementation of the Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy. Indeed we consider that the transition towards a more resource-efficient economy with a lower emissions level is today a universally recognized imperative and that this change in our production and consumption methods brings substantial economic opportunities for our businesses. This plan incentivizes inter alia development of more energy- and resource-efficient products and is designed to provide consumers with all the requisite information on products’ environmental performance so that they can make informed choices.

Innovation is vital in order to achieve a successful transition to a more resource-efficient economy. Our two countries call for more strategic EU investment in commercially viable technologies which will help drive this shift. We recognize the need to set the right climate for investment in innovation, and call for improved access for SMEs to EU research programmes. Finally, we need to ensure a fully-realized single market of knowledge exists in the EU, to accelerate and encourage innovation. To this end, France and the United Kingdom call for the full implementation of the European Research Area.

Our two countries also support the modernization of the automotive industry through the development of greener vehicles. The car industry is indeed a key sector of our economy because 12 million jobs in Europe depend on it and because of the role it plays in our citizens’ mobility. Yet the future lies in the development of lower-emission vehicles. With this in mind, early in 2009, our two countries contributed to the adoption at European level of the regulation reducing CO2 emissions of motor vehicles. At national level too, we are supporting the funding of major programmes to develop cleaner vehicles and manufacturing processes, both for car manufacturers, providing €6.5 billion in France and £2.3 billion in the United Kingdom, and, through our respective government plans for zero or near-zero-emission vehicles (electric, hybrid, etc.) centring on collaborative R&D and the deployment and marketing of new technology, providing nearly €300 million in France and £400 million in the United Kingdom. Concurrently with and complementary to this investment effort, both our governments are also encouraging motorists to buy cleaner cars, for example through scrappage and bonus schemes for greener vehicles.

We see great opportunity for Europe to become the location of choice for global investment and deployment of ultra-low carbon vehicle technologies. We consider that the issue of interoperability of systems and infrastructure is of particular importance. Standardization and harmonization of supporting technologies will help to secure this, and accelerate the introduction of ultra-low carbon vehicles. To this end, the UK and France agree to build on their existing close cooperation in multilateral technical forums (both European and global) to promote early adoption of international standards and inter-operability. A strong European initiative in this matter will help our industries to gain an advance at international level.

The Single Market is the engine of growth, and we need to ensure we maximize the benefits of this growth. France and the United Kingdom call for the Commission to bring forward a targeted agenda prioritising sectors where Europe can become the global leader, such as low carbon technologies, commercial services, high value-added manufacturing products, digital infrastructure and life sciences. We also call upon the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the single market operates more effectively, and to use competition policy tools to further remove barriers to businesses.

France and the United Kingdom also both have powerful aerospace industries, providing jobs and high-added-value exports. They are signalling their support for their development by offering Airbus with reimbursable launch investment for the A350XWB programme so that the company can develop the next generation, more fuel efficient aircraft.

We also need to ensure that our citizens have the skills and opportunities to participate equally in a pan-European employment market. France and the United Kingdom recognize the important role the European Social Fund can play in labour mobility, and call for the Fund to play a stronger role in increasing professional development and training, including through setting an ambitious new target for apprenticeships./.

¹ Source of English text: 10 Downing Street website.

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 30th France-UK summit – Declaration on global governance and development¹

Evian, 6 July 2009

The United Kingdom and France intend to cooperate closely to confront the political, economic and security issues of the twenty-first century. Pursuit of the reform of the governance of international institutions is a necessity if they are to be made more capable of meeting the challenges raised by international security and responding to the global economic crisis and under-development.

Reform of the United Nations Security Council

We wish to pursue our efforts to ensure that the Security Council is more representative of today’s world while at the same time preserving its capacity to take the steps required to cope with the problems of security posed by the twenty-first century.

We supported the launch by the General Assembly on 19 February 2009 of intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, this being an essential stage to take the discussions of Security Council reform out of the impasse in which it has found itself for all too long now.

We reaffirm the support of our two countries for the candidacy of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan for new permanent seats, along with representation for Africa among the permanent members of the Security Council.

We support the pragmatic intermediate solution that could provide for a new category of seats with a longer mandate than that of the members currently elected. On completion of this intermediate period, a review should be taken to convert these new seats into permanent seats.

We are pleased to note that the intermediate approach gained increasing support from United Nations Member States, as has been shown by the first meetings of the General Assembly to be held within the framework of the intergovernmental negotiations.

It is therefore our belief that the intermediate solution should be considered in the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2009-2010 where we look for meaningful progress. We are ready and willing to work with all our partners to define the parameters of such intermediate reform.

Global economic governance and follow-up to the G20

The response to the international financial crisis requires renewed mobilization based around the four key principles defined at the Washington Summit in November 2008, which were made the subject of concrete decisions in London on 2 April last: the necessity for coordinated and concerted stimulus, rejection of protectionism, more effective regulation of financial markets and a new approach to global governance.

The United Kingdom and France undertake to act together at bilateral, European and international levels to ensure the swiftest possible implementation of the decisions taken in London.

Together, we undertake to promote the following priorities:

With regard to international economic governance, we are pleased to note in particular the increase in the resources of international financial institutions and the speeding-up of the timetable for the reform of their governance.

Concerning the IMF, we salute the progressive provision of additional resources for the International Monetary Fund, in accordance with the commitments entered into at the London Summit and in order to allow the fund to provide effective aid to the countries that are poorest and hardest hit by the crisis. The United Kingdom and France have made their contribution to that effort by making €11 billion available to the Fund immediately. We are ready to increase this effort further and support the principle of additional commitments from European countries to reflect their responsibilities and weight in the global economy as part of an increase by up to $500 billion of the New Arrangements to Borrow. We stress the importance of incorporating IMF immediate financing from members into an expanded and more flexible New Arrangements to Borrow, as agreed at the London Summit.

We reaffirm our support for the general allocation of special drawing rights in an amount equivalent to $250 billion in order to increase global liquidity.

We stress the economic difficulties with which low-income countries are confronted and the importance of the role of the IMF in addressing those difficulties. We recall the close link that exists between the poverty alleviation strategy and the macroeconomic performance of low-income countries and emphasize the importance of the tools available to the Fund in this domain. We support the enhancement of the volume and concessionary terms of loans made to such countries and support the G20 agreement to use the proceeds of gold sales and surplus income to enhance these resources by at least $6 billion in fully additional concessionary financing. We also call for greater mobilization and an increase in the number of countries contributing to the financing of these facilities.

We reaffirm the importance of further reform to improve the responsiveness and adaptability of the IFIs given the growing integration of the global economy, with respect to both international trade and capital flows. In this context, we will work together on the G20 Chair’s review of the IFIs and look for meaningful decisions to be taken at the next G20 Summit.

Concerning the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB), we undertake to play an active part in the capital review processes in accordance with the decisions of the G20 in order to ensure that they have the resources required for their activities. We recognize the relevance of this exercise in the context of the global response to the crisis, to which counter-cyclical actions must also contribute in the shorter term. Such reviews must however be part of an overarching framework guided by clear principles:

The financial strategies of the MDBs must ensure that where resources are already available these are fully utilized, including by making full use of balance sheets;

The MDBs should adapt their approaches to deal with the specific challenges posed by the global economic crisis, as agreed at the G20 London Summit;

The MDBs must adhere to the principle of budgetary discipline and the setting of loan rates such as to guarantee their financial sustainability in the long term, while at the same time strengthening their capacity to transfer resources to concessionary windows;

They must ensure that their resources are channelled to the poorest, intensifying their action in the most vulnerable countries and targeting aid at the most disadvantaged population groups in middle-income countries;

They must adopt appropriate measures for risk management as an accompaniment to the expansion of their activity, notably with regard to the private sector.

The United Kingdom and France share the same analysis of the need for the representation of developing countries in international forums to be more commensurate with their importance and responsibilities, taking into account the specific mandate of each institution. We are resolved to act together on this matter and to play an active part in the debate. The United Kingdom and France salute the initiatives taken by the Francophonie and Commonwealth to foster inclusive dialogue and the exchange of information on these issues.

We intend to mobilize our efforts to put in place a strengthened financial regulation system to permit the restoration of confidence in markets, support sustainable global growth and serve the needs of businesses and citizens. We shall seek as a priority to build a stronger, more globally consistent, supervisory and regulatory framework, supported by a strong and effective Financial Stability Board (FSB). We will also work together to improve EU and international financial supervision in accordance with the focuses defined by the Larosière Commission and the decisions of the June European Council and by encouraging further joint work by the IMF and the FSB to deliver an early warning system for the global economy. We will work to extend regulation and oversight to all systemically important financial institutions, instruments and markets, consistent with the agreement reached at the London Summit.

France and the United Kingdom will also address the task of implementing the decision of the G20 concerning uncooperative jurisdictions and remain vigilant in ensuring that the 42 countries on the OECD “grey list” meet their commitment to apply international standards for the exchange of tax-related information. It is essential that we maintain the momentum set by the London Summit. We are therefore clear that where jurisdictions have not reached the standard of information exchange agreement by March 2010, they should be subject to coordinated international counter-measures agreed in London. Both our countries also stress the importance of combating tax evasion and undertake to combine our efforts to reinforce the coherence and effectiveness of international action in this domain. We agree that the threshold of 12 tax information exchange agreements should be seen as a starting point in the move towards greater tax transparency. If progress stalls we will expect the threshold to rise above 12, bringing those who have not made further progress back into the “grey list”. We will work together through the G20 to ensure that proposals are developed by the time of the next G20 Summit to ensure that developing countries can benefit from the new cooperative tax environment, including through a new multilateral tax information exchange agreement. We also call on the OECD to look at country by country reporting and the benefits of this for tax transparency and reducing tax avoidance.

The United Kingdom and France welcome the work underway to consider how the Global Forum on transparency and exchange of tax information can fully involve developing countries as equal participants and reform its governance, including to establish an effective peer review process to ensure effective implementation of the international standards, ahead of the Pittsburgh Summit. Successful development of this type of arrangement in the area of tax havens could provide a model for other areas where the OECD has a particular contribution to make to responding to global challenges.

France and the United Kingdom acknowledge the work undergone by the Financial Action task force (FATF) to revise and reinvigorate the process aiming at identifying uncooperative jurisdictions and call the FATF to proceed swiftly with its new review process in order to publicly name the jurisdictions that pose risks to the integrity of our financial system and apply counter measures where necessary.

The fight against non-cooperative jurisdictions should also encompass prudential regulations. We call on the FSB to swiftly assess jurisdictions against international supervisory and prudential standards and report back by September on their progress in identifying uncooperative jurisdictions.

In addition, France and the United Kingdom reaffirm their view that guaranteed freedom of trade is a key component of the response to the present economic and financial crisis. The commitment of the countries of the G20 to rejecting protectionism in all its forms and to maintaining a world open to trade and investment is in our view an imperative precondition for the return of sustained global prosperity. We salute in this connection the monitoring role of the WTO in this area. We are pleased to note the mobilization of an additional $250 billion to support trade finance as agreed at the London Summit, which will encourage world trade. To help the poorest countries in particular, France and the United Kingdom have both agreed to contribute to the IFC’s Global Trade Initiative and call on others to do so, in line with the commitment made at the London Summit. And lastly, we call for an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha Round in the coming months.

Finally, the United Kingdom and France are convinced that it is now time to lay the foundations of sustainable and equitable growth that is protective of human beings and the environment, and we are determined to take concerted action to achieve that goal. The unprecedented effort made by the international community to leave the crisis behind it must result ultimately in a better-regulated world economy, a fair and responsive labour market and less carbon-intensive growth. Both our countries are resolved to mobilize their efforts to foster the progress of environmental and social standards, notably with regard to decent work, and to support the action of the competent international organizations, notably the International Labour Organization, while at the same time taking into account situations specific to individual countries. As agreed at the G8 Summit in Toyako, we invite international organizations, in particular the ILO, the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO and the OECD to enhance their cooperation and to improve coherence. France and the United Kingdom welcome in this respect the ILO’s report on responses to the crisis, as agreed at the London Summit, and support the full and entire participation of the ILO in the next G20 summit. In the climate domain, France and UK call for the conclusion of an ambitious agreement and underline the necessity to consider the evolution of the current system of governance. We also call on all organizations involved in agriculture and food security to enhance their cooperation at all levels with a view to ensuring a more food secure world.

Development

The international financial and economic crisis threatens the progress made in recent years by developing countries and intensifies the effort of solidarity required to assist the poorest countries, especially in Africa, with the aim of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. France and the United Kingdom wish to act jointly to address the three challenges facing the international community: the challenge of poverty, the challenge of growth and the challenge of preserving Global Public Goods.

In this context France and the United Kingdom reaffirm their commitment to achieving their ODA pledges, including for reaching the target of 0.7% of GNI to ODA. The objectives of official development aid will be maintained and that aid will be better targeted and adjusted to suit the diversity of situations and actors. The entire palette of financing sources at our disposal additional to ODA alone will be used, in order both to foster peace and security and to support the private sector, growth and employment, with a view to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We will give strong support to reducing the costs of migrant remittances to their countries of origin, the total volume of which stands at three times the total figure for ODA.

In line with our undertakings given in 2008, we shall pursue our joint efforts to promote improvement in the public health situation in developing countries and the achievement of MDGs 5 (maternal health) and 6 (the combat against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis). Together, we shall develop products to support the health sector with a focus on strengthening health systems to accelerate progress on priority areas like maternal and newborn health. We acknowledge that access to quality healthcare remains a key issue for vulnerable individuals in many countries in Africa and we support the implementation of sustainable modes of financing their health systems and efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of aid to the health sector. Driving this process forward, we recognize the progress made by the International Health Partnership (IHP+) to help donors provide more predictable and flexible financing in support of countries’ own health strategies and welcome with satisfaction the initiative to promote and develop health cover (”Providing for Health”), which enables steps to be taken in the direction of sustainable and equitable financing for health systems and improved access to quality health services.

We also welcome our cooperation in favour of innovative financing for development which plays an essential role in mobilizing additional resources for development, including in the health domain. In support of the work of the High Level Taskforce on Innovative International Financing for Health Systems and following on from the meeting of the Leading Group in Paris, the UK and France will take forward mechanisms for health systems and call on our international partners to identify mechanisms they will support by the time of the UN General Assembly in September.

To conclude, we reaffirm the priority assigned to the achievement of the MDG on primary education and the enrolment of children in education, especially in Africa. We reiterate our joint pledge, made in 2008, to support each 8 million children in school by the time of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. We recognize the role that New Technologies of Information and Communication can play in education systems, particularly the role that “on-line universities” can play in enhancing access to professional training and university studies in Africa. In line with these undertakings, we have endeavoured together to build a new partnership, notably within the framework of the G8 and the United Nations. Together with the Global Campaign for Education, we are working with FIFA, the English Football Association, the Premier League, the Ligue professionnelle de football and the Fédération française de football in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This will raise awareness of universal primary education taking full advantage of the considerable impact this event will have in Africa and around the world. We have jointly committed up to €1.5 million for this campaign. We have also enhanced our contribution to the Education For All Fast-Track Initiative and call on our partners to join with us in seeking to finance the enrolment in school of those children as yet denied the opportunity of an education./.

¹ Source of English text: 10 Downing Street website.