Selected issues on the activities of the General Secretariat for National Defense and Security of France (Secrétariat Général de la Défense et de la Securité Nationale SGDSN)

Abstract

The issue of ensuring the safety to France and its citizens, particularly after recent terrorist attacks, has become the priority task of authorities and the security forces. The aim of this article is to present fundamental duties of General Secretariat of Defence and National Security (GSDNS), which corresponds and creates the security policy in the French Republic in the specific way. Due to the range and the specificity of the Secretariat operating in the security structures, it can be concluded that it is a coordinating authority which fosters tasks of various ministries, led in cooperation with the head of state and the Chief Executive. The GSDNS’s tasks, apart from coordiantion, comprise analysis, decision making in security and defence of France and control implementation. The Secretariat actively participates in debates concerning safety rules unification in the countries of the European Community.