The FBC promotes better understanding between Britain and France in the context of a developing Europe and of an increasingly globalised community. We are a politically neutral organisation which encourages the exchange of ideas and personal contacts through comparative debates and reports on topical subjects.

Our Latest Seminar

Second FBC Annual Defence Conference, British Embassy Paris

Wednesday 21 March

The 2012 Second Annual Defence Conference was hosted by Sir Peter Ricketts at his Residence in Paris on Wednesday 21 March 2012. It was a unique occasion to gather high profile policy makers and military officers, CEOs from industry as well as main think tankers and journalists.

Following a keynote speech by Peter Luff, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, shown left, four small roundtables tackled the latest issues relating to the bilateral partnership: a balance sheet on the cooperation achieved so far established that the pace was impressive although priorities for the year to come should focus on concrete industry programmes. British participants also questioned their colleagues on potential prospects for ongoing cooperation with a French socialist government.

On the world stage, Libya was assessed as a decisive military intervention in terms of interoperability but the lack of political strategy was highlighted and obviously Syria was not absent from the discussions. From the innovative and sensitive workshop on “We need to talk about Europe”, a frank conversation emerged amongst participants looking ahead to Chicago May 2012 and considering whether France and Britain could go to the NATO summit with a common approach on Defence within the Alliance.

View the video of the welcome speech of HE Sir Peter Ricketts, Ambassador of Britain to France.
View the video of the opening speech of Peter Luff MP, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology.

The report with key recommendations will be circulated shortly.

Gallery

2012 Second Annual Defence Conference

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Next Seminar

The Arab Spring - one year on

Tuesday 12 June

For two centuries, both British and French have viewed the Middle East as an area of vital interest. Their behaviour there has often been characterised by open competition (Fashoda), by misunderstanding and confrontation (Syria), by unhappy co-operation (Suez), or by straightforward political differences (Iraq).The Arab Spring, however, holds out new opportunities to the Western world in general and to Britain and France in particular. A more democratic Arab world, openly sharing some common values with the West, would free democracies from the awkward choices of the past two decades, between secular but authoritarian leaders and Islamists with apparently widespread public support. For the British and French, the last year has offered a tangible and successful experience of diplomatic and military co-operation in the region.The seminar to be held in Paris will aim to make a realistic assessment of the likely impact on the region of the Arab Spring in the short and medium term, to analyse the opportunities available to Britain and France in this context and to explore ways in which Britain and France can co-operate to build on such opportunities.

More information about future seminars…