EM on the UK-France Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty

Title of the Treaty

 

Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic for Defence and Security Co-operation

 

Command Paper Number:  Cm 7976 [PDF, new window]

 

Subject Matter

 

The Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty provides an over-arching framework for defence and security consultation and co-operation, including for the long-term strengthening of operational co-operation between UK and French Armed Forces, sharing and pooling of material and equipment, building joint facilities, ensuring mutual access to each other’s defence markets, and industrial and technological co-operation. It was signed by the Prime Minister and the President of the French Republic at the UK-France Summit in London on the 2^nd November 2010.

 

Ministerial Responsibility

 

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has overall responsibility for policy relating to the UK’s relations with France. The Secretary of State for Defence, Secretary of State for the Home Department, and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills have direct policy interests in the Treaty.

 

Policy Considerations

 

General

 

The Treaty provides a legal framework for delivering the commitments made in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review for the UK to create stronger strategic defence relationships with our main allies whose security interests and military capabilities are closest to our own. The Treaty sets the principles and parameters for co-operation. It affirms our continuing support for NATO as the foundation of our collective defence, and for the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy in strengthening international security. It is envisaged that the Treaty will be supplemented by subsequent detailed Memorandum of Understanding and Agreements on specific defence projects, as and when agreed between the UK and French Defence Ministries. The benefits of the Treaty are to make our Armed Forces more interoperable, maximise capabilities, and secure greater value for money from our investments in defence.

 

Essential interests are protected, including intellectual property and classified information. The Treaty states that control of our Armed Forces and the decision to employ them will always remain a matter of national sovereignty and that deployment or employment of our Armed Forces on operations together with or on behalf of France, as agreed with France, will be on the express command of the UK Government. Such deployment or employment would be preceded by a direction by the UK Government to its authorities of the strategic objectives, scale of operation and mission, having reached a common understanding with the French Government of the purpose and legal basis for deployment.

 

Financial

 

For both sides, a major reason for this initiative is the prospect of maximising the value of our investments and achieving financial savings from closer co-operation. Closer collaboration with France provides us with great opportunities to increase efficiency, by sharing development and support costs and reducing unit costs through longer production runs and reduced overheads. Operationally, it is anticipated that by deploying together into theatres where both countries have decided to engage we should be able to achieve economies of scale by sharing enabling capabilities, such as logistical support and medical facilities.

 

Reservations and Declarations

 

At the UK-France Summit on the 2^nd November, the UK and France issued a defence declaration providing details of the extent of defence co-operation and reaffirming commitments to NATO and the EU, and shared goals in relation to counter terrorism, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

 

The declaration stated that the UK and France had decided to sign the Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty to develop co-operation between our Armed Forces, and to collaborate in the technology associated with nuclear stockpiles stewardship in support of our respective independent nuclear deterrent capabilities. Nuclear co-operation would be subject to the Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic relating to Joint Radiographic/Hydrodynamics Facilities. Subordinate to the Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty, and EM on this Treaty has been submitted separately to Parliament. The declaration also make clear that the UK and France had signed a Letter of Intent, creating a new framework for exchanges between our Armed Forces on operational matters, and directing the UK-France High Level Working Group to strengthen its work on industrial and armament co-operation.

 

Implementation

 

The Treaty will enter into force on the first day of the second month following the deposit of the later of the two instruments of ratification. France will follow its own ratification procedures.

 

 

 

Consultations

 

As part of the process of negotiating the Treaty we consulted with officials in the Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, UK Trade and Investment, and the Elysée Palace. In forming policy positions, French officials and the Government department listed were consulted.

 

 

William Hague

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs