Mar. 25, 2013 – Defense News (AFP)

WARSAW — Eurocopter, the world’s leading maker of civil helicopters, will sign an agreement next month aimed at setting up production in Poland, putting it in the running for a Polish chopper deal, a factory president said Monday.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in September that Warsaw was seeking 70 helicopters for its army and that companies vying for the contract must guarantee they will build locally.

The subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and the WZL 1 factory in the central city of Lodz will ink the agreement on April 4, WZL 1 President Jan Pietowski told AFP. He said the agreement would center on their “cooperation if Eurocopter is chosen by Poland to deliver the 70 helicopters,” without elaborating.

The British-Italian group AgustaWestland and U.S. manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft have expressed interest in the tender, estimated to be worth around 2.5 billion euros ($3.2 billion). Both firms already have helicopter plants in Poland.

Eurocopter’s Barbara Texier, who is working on the WZL 1 project, confirmed the agreement to the leading Gazeta Wyborcza daily. The helicopter tender is seen as a significant step in the Polish army’s drive to replace 250 Soviet-era helicopters in the years to come.

A former Soviet satellite state of 38.2 million, Poland joined NATO in 1999, a decade after shedding communism. It entered the European Union in 2004.

Warsaw plans 33.6 billion euros in military spending over the coming decade to upgrade its Soviet-era military infrastructure. Plans call for a national missile shield as part of NATO’s European system as well as new helicopters, armored personnel carriers, submarines and drones.

Lynx helicopter

25 March 2013 army-technology.com

The UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has completed test flights of the open-architecture integrated defensive aids system (DAS) at Salisbury Plain training area, UK.

Carried out as part of the Common Defensive Aids System (CDAS) Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), the testing was aimed at demonstrating how different components can be better integrated to provide a coherent approach across various aircraft types.

A £24m, three-year partnership between the MoD and Selex Es-led industry team comprising Thales, QinetiQ, and BAE Systems North America, the CDAS TDAP is focused at enabling easy integration of sensors and countermeasures into frontline aircraft to enhance protection against future threats.

An integrated infrared, laser, ultraviolet sensors and directed infrared countermeasure (CDIRCM) effector-equipped architecture was used for testing, which was also supported by VFX's ground-based advanced multi-axis motion platform and a Lynx helicopter from the UK Army Air Corps Development and Trials (D&T) Squadron.

The multi-axis motion platform replicated the aircraft's movements, while Dstl scientists stimulated sensors at representative ranges, resulting in generation of numerous hours of test data, which has been used for CDAS development and also to de-risk the flight trials.

Dstl Sensors and Countermeasures Department source Barry Knight said the platform would enable scientists to identify motion-based issues before actual test flights, which saves time and money.

DAS system is made three components, in sensors for threat identification, effectors for subsequent destruction, and a DAS controller (DASC) for intelligent processing.

The flight data is currently being evaluated by the project team, as the Dstl considers the methods for utilising the systems for other defence benefits such as land and maritime projects.

Mar 25, 2013 ASDNews Source : Saab AB

Defence and security company Saab has, within the framework of the agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) that was made public on February 15 2013, received a development order amounting to SEK 10.7 billion for operations during 2015-2023.

The agreement with FMV on Gripen E, that was made public on February 15 2013, includes the development and modification of Gripen E for Sweden during the period 2013-2026 as well as a possible order for new production of Gripen E for Switzerland.

FMV has today placed an order for the remaining development work for Gripen E corresponding to SEK 10.7 billion. The order includes definition and development work as well as adaptation of test and trial equipment, simulators and rigs.

The total value of possible orders under the agreement amounts to a total of SEK 47.2 billion, of which SEK 13.2 billion now has been received, and these will be booked when each order is received. Remaining orders within the agreement are expected in 2013-2014.

“This is a strategically important order and of great significance for both Saab as a company and Gripen as a system. Gripen is one of the most modern fighter aircraft systems and through this development order, and the expected modification order from Sweden, we have a strong competitive advantage when we now increase our efforts on the export market,” says Saab’s President and CEO Håkan Buskhe.

The Gripen system is a unique fighter aircraft system with high defence capability. The system is today used by five countries and also by the British air force for training purposes.

”Now we have orders from FMV on the complete development of Gripen E, which makes it possible for us, FMV and our partners to work very cost effectively. In our civil programmes, the Neuron project and the Gripen Demo program we have systematically and step by step developed and tested a methodology the for development of aircraft systems, making us uniquely effective in our industry on a global level,” says Lennart Sindahl, Head of Saab’s business area Aeronautics.

As made public on February 15 2013, the other parts of the agreement with FMV includes: possible orders of modification of 60 Gripen C to Gripen E to Sweden with first deliveries to Sweden in 2018; mission-specific equipment and support and maintenance for Gripen E to Sweden with initial deliveries in 2018, and; delivery of 22 brand new Gripen E, and related equipment to Switzerland, if the country decides to acquire Gripen E.

March 25, 2013 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: European Defence Agency; issued March 22, 2013)

European Defence Matters

Five hundred key decision makers from the European Union defence community, including Member States, European institutions, research bodies, think-tanks, industry and the media, along with 17 high-level speakers, met at the annual conference of the European Defence Agency (EDA) yesterday in Brussels to discuss how Europe can enhance its capabilities at a time of decreasing defence budgets.

“When in November 2011 Defence Ministers approved eleven Pooling & Sharing priorities they sent a clear signal that, in times of austerity, complex operations and highly advanced technology, acting together is essential if Europe is to preserve and develop the capabilities it requires,” said Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the EDA, introducing the event.

The European Council will discuss defence topics during its December 2013 summit; conference speakers and delegates agreed that this meeting will have to take critical decisions on finance and empowering European institutions to speed initiatives such as Pooling & Sharing if Europe is to meet its defence and security commitments.

But the gap between the political rhetoric on cooperation and the speed with which it is being introduced by national administrations was a key feature of the debate at the EDA annual conference, entitled “European Defence Matters.”

Capability gap

“We face critical capability gaps,” according to Cathy Ashton, head of the EDA, who underlined what could be done through successful EU cooperation in defence. She also mentioned the efforts of EU operations, such as seeing piracy drop by 95% over the last three years in Somalia, while over 3,000 Somali troops have been trained.

“If current trends continue by 2017 we risk losing 17% of the European expenditures since the economic crisis started,” said Mr Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. It was a strong message echoed by many speakers, with serious consequences for the European defence industrial base. “My main concern is not so much CSDP as such or “EU defence”, but rather the state of defence in Europe. That's how Presidents and Prime Ministers look at these issues together” declared President Van Rompuy. “The same goes for their joint responsibility for our continent's defence; there also, decisions in one country, will affect others. There is too little public awareness of this, and in that respect precisely, Presidents and Prime Ministers are uniquely placed to convince a wider public opinion, and thereby to set things into motion. (…) Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo last December, [European leaders] said the European Union stands by those in pursuit of peace and human dignity. To fulfil such responsibilities, we should make sure we have the means at our disposal.”

“For the defence dimension of our discussion in December, for me the important thing is to make concrete progress on three key issues: (1) priorities for future investment and equipment procurement; (2) strengthening our industrial base, so that it remains competitive and innovative; (3) and finally, the preparation and availability of forces.” stated the President of the European Union.

Industrial base

According to Tom Enders, Chief Executive of EADS, unless serious action is taken Europe risks losing key elements of its defence industrial base as skilled personnel either leave or transfer to civil industry. “We are facing a challenge of political drift,” said Mr Enders, “it is unlikely that EADS which was formed in 1999 could be created in 2013.”

“The biggest threat to European defence today is shrinking budgets. We need some light from Heads of States.” said Mr Danjean. So what are the options? According to Claude France Arnould, Chief Executive of the EDA it would be unrealistic to expect a 20% increase in the budget of the EDA - but if more Member States came forward to support individual Pooling & Sharing programmes that would be an excellent start. “Money is not just the only sign of support,” said Ms Arnould.

Concurring with Tom Enders saying that more money should be given to EDA, Mr Klich, Senator of the Republic of Poland and former Minister of Defence also stated “But I have doubts about the current budget of the EDA”, suggesting that as the EDA was the only European organisation actively working to increase defence cooperation it would need more resources to undertake its role.

Success in cooperation

Many speakers pointed out some of the success stories of what has been achieved through cooperation in recent years. General de Rousiers, Chairman of the Military Committee of the EU, gave the example of the European air transport command which had been created in a relatively short time and the working being undertaken to exploit civil observation satellite assets for military operations. “Pooling & Sharing is one of the greatest European defence achievements of the last two to three years,” said Mr Klich.

The priorities for European defence leaders were also discussed – Mr Missiroli, Director of the European Institute for Security Studies suggested these were securing the European homeland, securing the European neighbouring areas, securing global commerce and ensuring access to energy. Delegates also discussed the “quick wins” which the European Council could sanction such as improving military access to space resources, coordinating cyber defence activities, opening access to remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) in the European sky and developing air to air capabilities through Pooling & Sharing.

“Cooperation between NATO ACT and EDA is essential and well-functioning” said General Palomeros, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. “There is a pressing need to balance defence commitments from both sides of the Atlantic, and European partners will need to deliver their full share in capabilities.” In some areas, such as developing a single European requirement for an RPAS MALE system, European defence departments have already missed the boat, but in others, such as the A400M military transport, consolidated capability requirements had delivered positive results.

But not all European states faced the same problems. Mr Krystowski, CEO of Poland’s BUMAR group clearly said some states in central and Eastern Europe had different defence priorities to those in the West and a more vibrant economy which should be taken into account.

Task force on defence

A critical input into the Council’s meeting later this year will come from the European Commission’s task force looking at bolstering the continent’s defence industrial and technological sector. Mr Calleja, Director General of the Enterprise and Industry Directorate General of the European Commission underlined some of the priorities already identified by the task force, including enhancing the common security and defence policy, building a strong industrial base, strengthening the internal defence market, developing an industrial base to include SMEs and their access to finance and improving R&T levels of funding. Another priority was energy conservation. “Europe’s military spends around €1 billion a year on energy,” he said, “the same as a small European state.”

Despite the problems the EDA has made significant progress over the last year in meeting capability gaps through Pooling & Sharing, said Peter Round, Director Capabilities at the agency. Ten Member States are now working on a joint procurement programme to acquire urgently needed air-to-air refuelling assets in the long-term. A further procurement initiative was underway to access satellite communications services from the civil sector for a range of operational needs. Another multi-national initiative has been launched to provide medical hospitals for troops in the field.

“We must now close the gap between rhetoric and reality” concluded Claude-France Arnould.

Mar 25, 2013 ASDNews Source : Saab AB

Defence and security company Saab has received an order for missile components amounting to SEK 175 million. Deliveries will take place during the period 2013 to 2019.

Saab has a broad portfolio of products and solutions including the RBS 70, RBS 70 NG, NLAW and RBS 15 missile systems. In addition, Saab is also participating in a number of multinational cooperation missile development programmes.

“This order is yet another acknowledgement of our broad competence and expertise within missiles and we will continue to develop and refine our products and systems in this area,” says Görgen Johansson, Head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.

The industry’s nature is such that depending on circumstances concerning the product and customer, information regarding the customer will not be announced.

L'Estonie a passé commande de deux radars GM400

en 2009.

25/03/2013 Par Guillaume Steuer - air-cosmos.com

Après la Finlande, l'Estonie : la société conjointe ThalesRaytheonSystems doit livrer demain au cours d'une cérémonie officielle le premier des deux radars de surveillance Ground Master 403 (GM403) commandés par Tallinn en juin 2009. Une étape symbolique qui suit de près la livraison d'un premier radar similaire à la Finlande, en janvier dernier.

En 2009, à l'issue d'une compétition qui l'avait notamment opposé à une offre de Lockheed Martin, le Ground Master avait en effet été déclaré vainqueur d'un appel d'offres mené conjointement par la Finlande et l'Estonie, qui avaient au total passé commande de 14 systèmes.

Le GM403 est un radar à antenne active doté de modules d'émission-réception au nitrure de gallium (GaN) et fonctionnant en bande S. Selon la littérature commerciale du constructeur, il affiche une portée de détection d'environ 400 km sur une cible affichant une signature équivalente radar de 2 m².

La gamme GM400 comporte également un GM406, plus puissant que le GM403. C'est ce radar qui est d'ailleurs proposé à la Turquie dans le cadre de l'appel d'offres T-Loramids, en complément du système sol-air SAMP/T. Dans cette configuration, le GM406 doit en effet être capable de fournir une désignation d'objectif au profit du SAMP/T pour l'interception de missiles balistiques de courte portée, type Scud. 

A ce jour, neuf pays ont déjà passé commande de radars GM400 : la France, la Slovénie, la Malaisie, la Finlande, l'Estonie, le Canada, l'Allemagne, le Maroc et le Chili.

Brussels | Mar 22, 2013 Elisabeth.SCHOEFFMANN - European Defence Agency

Alan Shatter, Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, representing Presidency of the European Union, highlighted in his keynote speech Ireland's ongoing commitment to the European Defence Agency. He also underlined that the Agency was established during Ireland's last Presidency in 2003.

• Alan Shatter: Speech EDA Conference
• Speech by Herman Van Rompuy, Council President
• Speech by Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission and Head of the European Defence Agency.
• Welcome by Claude-France Arnould
• Pictures on Flickr
• Event summary on Storify

Picture: French Air Force SAMP/T (Armée de l’Air)

22.03.2013by Guillaume Belan (FOB)

The Italian Army and French Air Force carried out early March a successful interception of a ballistic missile target. The recent test of the European missile defence system SAMP/T, made by MBDA, employed NATO standard communications environment for the first time. This 6 March test was  integrated within the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence Operations Centre (BMDOC) at Ramstein, Germany. The missile was the Aster 30 which scored a direct hit on the target. The target, an Israeli Black Sparrow missile was launched by an Israeli F-15 from the Atlantic ocean on a ballistic trajectory about 300 km from the land. The test campaign began in 2005 and the system is operational since 2008. The test represents another milestone for the SAMP/T system, now capable to counter a ballistic missile under NATO’s future missile defence architecture. This test has been realised in France at the DGA (French procurement agency) missile test center in Biscarrosse, jointly realised by the fourth artillery regiment of Mantoue (Italy) and the French Military air testing center (centre d’expériences aériennes militaires – CEAM) of Mont-de-Marsan. It required important means form the French DGA and NATO. SAMP/T based on the Aster 30 missile has thus accomplished an important step in the french-italian contribution for the NATO programme of force protection against a ballistic missile threat.

Mar. 21, 2013 - By JULIAN HALE – Defense News

BRUSSELS — The European Commission is preparing to unveil a number of priority areas designed this summer to strengthen the European Union’s defense industry ahead of an EU summit of heads of state and government devoted to European defense policies at the end of 2013.

Daniel Calleja Crespo, director-general of the Enterprise and Industry DG of the EC

“It is not possible to mobilize resources if you don’t have a strong industrial base. That’s the main message of the commission’s communication [policy paper] that we’re preparing. We intend to have it done by the summer so there’s plenty of time to prepare the council [EU summit] well,” said Daniel Calleja Crespo, director-general of the Enterprise and Industry Directorate General of the European Commission at the European Defence Agency’s annual conference here March 21.

He argued that the council has “a great opportunity” to enhance the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and to send a strong message that it is important for Europe to work on this area and be able to take on responsibilities as “military capabilities are important and it is important to have a strong industrial base”.

Three of the priorities he referred to were: the need to strengthen the EU’s internal market (via two directives, one on the procurement of and the other on the intra-EU transfer of defense goods); an industrial strategy (including working with small and medium enterprises, working on skills and access to finance); and energy efficiency (here European armies spend about 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) per year, the equivalent of a small EU member state, which means “lots of possibilities”).

A fourth area, related to research, development and innovation, he said had “fallen in EU military budgets while spending had increased in the U.S.

“We have Horizon 2020 and there are possibilities here for dual-use programs, for example, relating to unmanned aerial vehicles,” he said.

Horizon 2020 is an EU fund for research programs that is still subject to negotiation within the EU as part of the EU’s multiannual financial framework talks. He also said that money for innovation has not been cut so deeply in the multiannual financial framework talks, and so “if the European Parliament agrees, there will be a significant program in Horizon 2020.

“Where there are dual-use technologies, if the project is submitted by member states, I think we can use European funding,” he said, citing UAVs as a good example.

“If there are other programs where there is a dual-use aspect, this is also possible [for European funding],” he said. Referring to the “challenge of standardization,” he said that was a “challenge ahead of us in the defense sector,” adding, “expect some initiatives in this area”.

E. Trappier, chairman of the ASD Defence Commission and CEO of Dassault Aviation

Eric Trappier, the chairman of the ASD Defence Commission and chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said he expected the commission to make a decision with the European Defence Agency to start a program to determine if “we can fly UAVs in the European sky.”

Looking ahead to the EU summit in December, former Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said, “it can send a message to the public about the recovery of the CSDP or deepen the crisis of the CSDP of recent years. I think the council will send a positive message and give an impulse for the next phase of the CSDP,” he added.

On the question of the EU’s battlegroups, he said, “if not used, they could be lost” and so they [the council] should answer the question of the concept of battlegroups.

Klich also argued in favor of the EU having a permanent civil-military capacity headquarters.

At the council, Crespo said he wanted “a clear agreement on CSDP objectives and a strategy — a roadmap with concrete policies and timelines for the coming years until the next council, where we can monitor what has been achieved,” though he noted that he was not expressing the commission’s official position.

Klich also called for “a significant increase in the budget of the EDA,” a point on which Crespo agreed, arguing “the EDA needs to play an increasing role” as “it is important to have a strong CSDP.”

On the budget question, Claude-France Arnould, the chief executive of the EDA, said “she could not imagine a 20 percent increase in the EDA institutional budget in times of crisis” but that “what is important is to have additional money from member states for ad hoc activities.”

She hoped the money question would be raised at the council. “If we wait for the end of the crisis, part of our defense [sector] will be dead and have gone to the civilian side.”

“The council is a moment of truth. Decisions have to be taken,” said Crespo.

Mar. 21, 2013 - By JULIAN HALE – Defense News

BRUSSELS — Air to air refueling, cyberdefense and unmanned aerial systems could be key topics at a December European Union summit that will discuss defense policy, said Claude France Arnould, the chief executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

Specific proposals will be discussed by EU defense ministers at their meeting on April 23, who will then decide what to put forward for review at the EU summit, Arnould said at the EDA’s annual conference.

On the issue of unmanned aerial systems (UASs), she noted that there already is a European roadmap looking at regulation, certification and innovation issues.

“This should now be agreed and implemented,” she said. She also pointed to an EDA Joint Investment Programme on the technological aspects of UASs that follows a previous project to test anti-collision technologies, which will be formally launched in November.

As for smaller UASs, she suggested that a market could be created, especially to the benefit of small and medium enterprises, and this would be a good example of a civil-military capability.

“Frontex [the EU’s civil border security agency] could be an end customer of this kind of capability,” she said.

Regarding cyberdefense, an EDA official said the idea is to look into training ranges and methods to train against cyber attacks.

“There could in the future be one set of equipment [hardware and tactics] to protect EU headquarters and this could be transferred to a particular EU Operations Headquarters when it is running an operation,” he said.

Asked why there were no senior U.K. officials during the day’s panel discussions, Arnould said “we didn’t think of having a geographical representation on the panel” and that “there was no refusal from the U.K. My feeling is that the U.K. is a serious player. On air-to-air refueling, for example, we can have a serious dialogue with the U.K.,” she said.

Arnould also argued that the EDA should have the authority to develop common certification standards, for example, related to the safe storage of ammunition, which is currently subject to national standards.

As for the EDA budget, which is around 30 million euros ($38.7 million) per year, Arnould said “we can’t go on permanently losing 2 percent every year,” and suggested one possible solution could be for EU countries to provide resources for ad hoc activities.

“In the future, we would like member states to come to the EDA as a platform for a real demonstrator,” she said. An EDA official said the idea of ad hoc activities is for EU member states to contribute more to specific projects. An example is the EDA’s helicopter tactics training program, to which member states contribute money, people and training resources.

Arnould also issued a stark warning that seemed mainly aimed at EU member state officials.

“Action in this area [of defense cooperation] is vital. If we’re not now at the level of action and not declaration, there’s a risk that some industrial background could disappear or go from defense to civilian activities,” she said. “If we lose labs, the technological base, etc., this is a major issue.”

21.03.2013 par Thierry Dubois - Aerobuzz.fr

21/03 LesEchos.fr (Reuters)

Les perspectives sont moroses pour l'industrie de la défense européenne, selon Thomas Enders. Le marché à l'exportation est "difficile" parce que tout le monde s'y rue.

Le président exécutif du groupe aéronautique et de défense européen EADS Thomas Enders a estimé mardi que la consolidation se poursuivrait dans l'industrie de la défense, au vu des sombres perspectives pour le secteur en Europe et d'une concurrence féroce sur les marchés à l'exportation.

"Je pense qu'il y aura encore de la consolidation, mais nous avons eu un exemple frappant l'an dernier, où le secteur a tenté de réaliser une opération de consolidation importante et où les dirigeants politiques l'ont empêchée", a-t-il dit lors de la conférence annuelle de l'Agence européenne de défense (AED).

Thomas Enders faisait référence à l'échec, l'an passé, de la tentative de fusion de 45 milliards de dollars entre EADS et le britannique BAE Systems. La fusion, qui aurait créé un géant européen dans la défense et l'aéronautique, avait rencontré une forte opposition politique.

La pression exercée sur les finances publiques européennes se traduit par une poursuite de la diminution des dépenses de défense.

"Notre opinion est qu'il va falloir affronter en Europe une décennie sans croissance, et plus probablement d'une diminution des budgets de défense", a-t-il dit.

"Nous admettons que l'industrie doit affronter un nouveau déclin des budgets de défense. Je pense que c'est très important et qu'il faut que nous en tirions tous les conséquences."

Thomas Enders a ajouté qu'EADS avait de bonnes positions dans la défense puisque le groupe fabrique des produits dont les armées ont grandement besoin, tels des avions de transport ou des avions de ravitaillement.

Il a également dit que, le cas échéant, EADS, maison mère d'Airbus, pouvait réaffecter une partie de ses ressources militaires dans ses activités civiles.

Seule une poignée des membres pays membres de l'Otan respectent l'objectif de l'organisation de consacrer 2% du produit intérieur brut (PIB) à la défense et Thomas Enders a dit que les dépenses de la France et de la Grande-Bretagne, les deux poids lourds militaires de l'Europe, tomberaient vraisemblablement sous ce seuil.

Essayer de compenser la faiblesse de l'activité en Europe par une focalisation sur les marchés à l'exportation en dehors du continent est "très difficile parce que tout le monde a cette bonne idée", a poursuivi le président exécutif d'EADS.

"Les Américains, les Européens et tous ceux qui ont une activité défense se tournent vers les marchés en croissance et, que se passe-t-il ? Il s'agit toujours des mêmes pays, le Brésil, l'Inde, le Moyen-Orient, où nous nous retrouvons tous et où nous nous livrons une concurrence féroce, donc ce n'est pas une chose facile."

21.03.2013 tdg.ch

Le chiffre d'affaires du groupe en mains de la Confédération a par contre augmenté de 1,6% à 1,74 milliard

Ruag a vu son bénéfice net diminuer l'an dernier de 16,9% à 81 millions de francs.

Le résultat d'exploitation (EBIT) a progressé de 3,7% à 114 millions de francs, malgré un contexte de marché difficile marqué par la baisse des budgets des Etats, a indiqué jeudi Ruag dans un communiqué.

Le secteur civil a représenté 50% du chiffre d'affaires, contre 48% en 2011, tandis que le secteur militaire y a contribué pour l'autre moitié (52%). Ruag a réalisé une nouvelle fois plus de la moitié de ses ventes à l'étranger, soit 56%, contre 53% en 2011.

Sans surprise, le principal client reste le Département fédéral de la défense (DDPS) avec une part de 36% du chiffre d'affaires. Ruag prévoit un contexte de marché encore difficile cette année, vu la mauvaise situation des finances publiques dans de nombreux pays européens.