Translation of "franco-german relations " (English → French) :

31. Welcomes the Franco-German heavy transport helicopter project, but is also aware of the complex reasons for the shortage of available and operational helicopters, mostly related to the high costs of flight hours and maintenance; invites the Council to explore possibilities designed to bridge the gap for the near future, either by a joint action or by supporting Member States in the refurbishing and upgrading of Russian-built helicopters as well as establishing a helicopter training centre; reiterates that, generally, one of the ...[+++]principal obstacles to modernising and transforming European forces so as to enable them to cope effectively with the security challenges of the 21st century is not the level of defence expenditure but rather the lack of cooperation, the absence of a clear division of labour and specialisation, and the duplication and fragmentation in arms production and procurement, which increase the risk of non-interoperability between armies; however, urges the Member States to envisage an increase in defence expenditure for the concrete purpose of being able to make efficient use of acquired helicopters;

Welcomes the Franco-German heavy transport helicopter project, but is also aware of the complex reasons for the shortage of available and operational helicopters, mostly related to the high costs of flight hours and maintenance; invites the Council to explore possibilities designed to bridge the gap for the near future, either by a joint action or by supporting Member States in the refurbishing and upgrading of Russian-built helicopters as well as establishing a helicopter training centre; reiterates that, generally, one of the prin ...[+++]cipal obstacles to modernising and transforming European forces so as to enable them to cope effectively with the security challenges of the 21st century is not the level of defence expenditure but rather the lack of cooperation, the absence of a clear division of labour and specialisation, and the duplication and fragmentation in arms production and procurement, which increase the risk of non-interoperability between armies; however, urges the Member States to envisage an increase in defence expenditure for the concrete purpose of being able to make efficient use of acquired helicopters;

32. Welcomes the Franco-German heavy transport helicopter project, but is also aware of the complex reasons for the shortage of available and operational helicopters, mostly related to the high costs of flight hours and maintenance; invites the Council to explore possibilities designed to bridge the gap for the near future, either by a joint action or by supporting Member States in the refurbishing and upgrading of Russian-built helicopters as well as establishing a helicopter training centre; reiterates that, generally, one of the ...[+++]principal obstacles to modernising and transforming European forces so as to enable them to cope effectively with the security challenges of the 21st century is not the level of defence expenditure but rather the lack of cooperation, the absence of a clear division of labour and specialisation, and the duplication and fragmentation in arms production and procurement, which increase the risk of non-interoperability between armies; however, urges the Member States to envisage an increase in defence expenditure for the concrete purpose of being able to make efficient use of acquired helicopters;

Among the other topics likely to be discussed by the European Council in Corfu, particular mention was made of the Franco-German initiative against racism and xenophobia and a number of common foreign and security policy issues: relations with Mediterranean countries, including Cyprus and Malta, as well as Algeria, Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Russia, the Stability Pact, the nuclear non-proliferation issue, certain situations in Africa and relations with Latin America.

BELGIUM Members Mr Jozef CHABERT Brussels Region Mr Norbert DE BATSELIER Flemish Community Mr Michel LEBRUN French-Speaking Community Mr Albert LIENARD Walloon Region Mr Joseph MARAITE German-Speaking Community Mrs Laurette ONKELINX French-Speaking Community Mr Charles PICQUE Brussels Region Mr Johan SAUWENS Flemish Community Mr Guy SPITAELS Walloon Region Mr Luc VAN DEN BOSSCHE Flemish Community Mr Luc VAN DEN BRANDE Flemish Community Mr Hugo WECKX Flemish Community Alternates Mr William ANCION Walloon Region Mr Stefaan DE CLERCK Flemish Community Mr Rufin GRIJP Brussels Region Mr Lode HANCKE Flemish Community Mr Theo KELCHTERMANS Flemish Community Mr André KRUPA French-Speaking Community Mr Herman SUYKERBUYK Flemish Community Mr Jean-Loui ...[+++]s THYS Brussels Region Mrs Nathalie de T'SERCLAES French-Speaking Community Mr Jean-Claude VAN CAUWENBERGHE Walloon Region Mr Paul VAN GREMBERGEN Flemish Community Mr Louis VANVELTHOVEN Flemish Community DENMARK Members Mr Per KAALUND Chairman of Copenhagen County Council Mr Poul CHRISTENSEN Chairman of Storstrøm County Council Mr Knud ANDERSEN Chairman of Bornholm County Council Mr Henning TELLERUP Chairman of Vestsjælland County Council Mr Hilmar SØLUND Mayor of Herning Mrs Helene LUND Member of Farum Town Council Mr Søren ANDERSEN 2nd Deputy Mayor of Skive Mr Evan JENSEN Mayor of Lejre Mr Jens Kramer MIKKELSEN Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Alternates Mr Søren MADSEN Chairman of Nordjlland County Council Mrs Bente NIELSEN Member of Århus County Council Mr Kresten PHILIPSEN Chairman of Sønderjylland County Council Mr Poul Erling CHRISTENSEN Chairman of Ribe County Council Mr Thorkild SIMONSEN Mayor of Århus Mr Kjeld RASMUSSEN Mayor of Brøndby Mrs Elna Fjord NIELSEN 2nd Deputy Mayor of Ringe Mrs Else KØBSTRUP 1st Deputy Mayor of Hjørring Mr John WINTHER Mayor of Frederiksberg FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Members Mr Erwin TEUFEL Chief Minister - Baden-Württemberg Mr Dieter SPÖRI Minister for Economic Affairs - Baden-Württemberg Mr Thomas ...