Germany, France Preparing Proposals For Defense Fund

Germany and France are working out specific proposals for a European Union defense fund ahead of a bilateral ministerial meeting on July 13.

"Joint work on drones, military transports and combined efforts to stabilize the African Sahel region were projects that could be funded by the new plan," German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview published on Saturday.

Germany and France are aiming to become the motor of a European defense union and want to implement the defense fund in a smart way," she told the Funke Mediengruppe newspaper chain.

The finance ministers of both countries were engaged in developing mechanisms, while the defense ministers were working to identify various projects,Von der Leyen was quoted as saying by Reuters Saturday. By the fund,Europe-wide training of military officers could also be paid, Von der Leyen said.

Increased cooperation in Africa could help reduce trafficking in arms and people, while helping combat terrorism, she said. The European Commission this week threw its support behind Franco-German plans to integrate Europe's militaries and defense industries.