France/ UK: Joint declaration on defence and security.

The UK and France have released a declaration on defence and security
following the UK-French Summit in Evian on 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 co-ordinating 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 co-ordinated 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 co-operation which has
been achieved with the shipping and fishing industries, which is
essential to minimising 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 stabilisation 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
effectivness 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 committments 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 June 27-28th 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
organisation for planning of ESDP operations and missions.

* We recognise 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 Mr. 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 organisation.

The preparation of a revised Strategic Concept provides an opportunity
to renovate NATO to make it efficient and fit for 21st 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 co-operation,
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 personel
between the two procurement organisations.

* 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, peacefull 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. [Iran issues: to be adjusted either here
or in press conference]

* 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 programs.

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 April 4th, 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 co-ordination.

* 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.

* Strenghthen our joint work on reducing the threat from nuclear terrorism.