François de Canson: 'Europe has understood that its security is key to its freedom'

This strategic tool, unique in France, aims to structure the regional ecosystem and support the industry, innovation, and attractiveness of the territory, by mobilizing all military, industrial, and institutional stakeholders.

INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

François de Canson, vice-président of the Région, put the stakes of the regional strategy into perspective: 'In an international context marked by uncertainty, Région Sud is taking its responsibilities and investing to meet tomorrow's challenges (...). Méditerranée is somewhat the theatre of the world and the conscience of history. It concentrates all the fractures of the modern world with visible and invisible wars, forced migrations, climate disruptions, identity divides, rivalries of influence, religious manipulations, and sometimes the loss of the very meaning of truth. But it also remains this place of fragile balance where faith, reason, and memory still try to speak to each other.' Thus, more than 50 joint actions have already been identified, with a roadmap finalized in 2026. This OIR aims to mobilize €500 million in order to support the growth of companies in the sector and secure the critical phases of projects (R&D, industrialization, scaling up). Furthermore, Région Sud and the Banque européenne d'investissement (BEI) signed a letter of intent, marking the beginning of an unprecedented partnership in Europe. The BEI will assist the Région in identifying the needs of the territory and structuring the regional ecosystem around this OIR, mobilizing and directing European and national funding, and securing and accelerating business projects.

GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGES

'With this new Opération d'Intérêt Régional, we carry a clear vision: that of a territory investing in technology, training, and innovation to meet the geopolitical and security challenges of today and tomorrow,' declared Renaud Muselier. At a time when the changing strategic context requires accelerating the transformation of the armed forces and the defense industry in order to prepare them for the toughest commitments, the synergy between the various public and private stakeholders determines its success. 'The Opération d'Intérêt Régional "Défense et Sécurité" represents a wonderful opportunity to capitalize on the strengths of the Région Sud, a historical land of defense and strategic pivot in the event of our armed forces' engagement, by mobilizing our energies to strengthen our human, material, and moral resources,' added Yves Metayer, Général de corps d'armée, officier général de zone de défense et de sécurité Sud, gouverneur militaire de Marseille. For his part, Christophe Lucas, vice-amiral d'Escadre, commandant de la zone et de l'arrondissement maritime Méditerranée, préfet maritime de la Méditerranée, specified: 'In an unstable and violent world where crises add up and feed on each other, Méditerranée is no exception to this observation. The armed forces are on the front line to defend and protect the nation's interests, both in our approaches and offshore. The ambitious loi de programmation 2024-2030 relies on an exceptional industrial fabric whose support is essential and is already proving itself: innovation, agility in processes, short loops are all levers that make it possible to optimize synergies between all players in order to face current and future challenges.' François de Canson insisted: 'Launching our OIR Défense is neither a reaction nor a rupture. It is the culmination of an assumed trajectory. For nearly ten years, the Région has chosen a structured, steered, demanding industrial policy. The Opérations d’Intérêt Régional are its tool. The results speak for themselves with 183 structuring projects supported, €912 million secured, with a massive leverage effect, the regional share representing 10% of the amounts committed, serving strategic sectors, innovation, employment, and economic sovereignty. This method has proven its worth. Today, we are applying it to what has become the beating heart of national sovereignty. This is the whole meaning of dual intermeshing. The same technologies protect our soldiers and our citizens. The same industrial chains serve national defense and the resilience of the territory.' Concretely, the same skills are mobilized in the face of conflicts, natural disasters, health or climate crises. In an unstable world, the border between external security and internal security is blurring. 'What matters is the collective capacity to protect, rescue, and rebuild. This is the coherence carried by the Opération d’Intérêt Régional Défense et Sécurité. It fits into a clear European vision. Europe has understood that its security conditions its freedom. That its sovereignty cannot be delegated. And that territories have a central role to play. By mobilizing European funding, working with the Banque européenne d’investissement, and carrying weight in Bruxelles, Région Sud assumes its role as a strategic European territory. Here, in the Sud, we know that Défense is never abstract. It is a continuity of efforts, a collective discipline, a loyalty to who we are. We make this choice without noise, but without weakness. As you have understood, it is up to us to structure, finance, simplify, and train. Together, we will contribute to the future of this territory,' concluded the vice-président of the Région.