The parliamentary report of deputies Jean-Louis Thiériot (LR) and François Ballet-Blu (LREM) is a warning.
At the end of a "flash mission", elected officials insisted on the weaknesses weighing on the defense industry.
If the threats are "
contained
"
today
, they say, they risk tomorrow "
to weaken the industrial defense fabric
" and "
to erode France's strategic autonomy
".
And therefore its sovereignty.
Access to finance is the main challenge facing the “
defense industrial and technologist base
” (BITD), ie around 4000 French companies, some of them particularly strategic.
The “
reluctance of banks
” to finance projects is singled out.
Large groups such as start-ups are concerned but the contraction of bank loans threatens the survival of some SMEs, says the report.
Complex exchanges
The reluctance of banks has multiple sources.
They are primarily due to the growing weight
of
"
compliance
" or "
compliance
" in English.
The report underlines the effects induced by the Sapin 2 law combating the risks of corruption.
"
Exchanges between banks and manufacturers have become more complex, the latter criticizing the cumbersome procedures and the intrusion of banks in cases often bearing the seal of confidentiality,
" note the rapporteurs.
The cautious banks are also explained by threats linked to the extraterritoriality of American law, which have cost some of them dearly.
Reputation
attacks
also hamper sector engagement.
The rapporteurs cite the example of a complaint that was lodged with the International Criminal Court by an NGO against several industrialists accused of arms exports to Yemen.
The report also mentions investment funds which in principle exclude defense projects from their portfolios for ethical reasons.
