For some years France has been moving towards a multilateral approach in its security and defence policy in Africa, by favouring a European framework. France would like its RECAMP programme (Reinforcement of African Peacekeeping Capabilities), the chief vector of its own policy, to evolve as one of the elements of ESDP (European Security and Defence Policy) in Africa. For its part, the European Union (EU) has drawn up a concept for the reinforcement of African capabilities in the field of crisis prevention and management. One of the aims of this concept is to help coordinate the efforts of member-states in this area. Integrating RECAMP with the European concept depends on the willingness of the Africans as well as the member states, and also on the EU’s ability to absorb the different ‘pillars’ of RECAMP on an institutional basis, and to mobilise the financial resources (European Concept for Reinforcement of African Capabilities, para. 66, 7 July 2006).
Towards the Europeanisation of France's Security and Defence Policy in Africa?
France’s security and defence policy in Africa, characterised by strong historical and cultural links with Africa, is based today on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), validated by the G8, the African Union (AU) and by African regional organisations. It is also a part of the process of building a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
France has taken into account the fact that nowadays African security and development problems have largely gone beyond the framework of national frontiers, as was noted in a recent Senate report.(1) As a result, the Charter of the AU and Article 74 of NEPAD foresee the need to stress the strengthening of existing regional and continental institutions in four key areas, which also cover the main areas of activity of French policy in Africa:
• conflict prevention, management and resolution;
• the search for, maintenance and imposition of peace;
• reconciliation, restoration and reconstruction following con-flict;
• combating the illegal proliferation of small arms and land mines.
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