Publication

This bulletin discusses France's defense policy and its agenda for the European Council in December 2013 and the Common Security and Defence Policy. The author argues that France sees the European Council as an opportunity to advance defense coordination in the EU, something that will allow the country to offset its defense cuts. However, he also suggests that while France wants this coordination, it does not want it to undermine its own ability to assess, decide and act upon security issues. The paper also talks about what France's position on European defense policy might mean for Poland.