550 local police, gendarmes and soldiers supported by 1,300 reinforcements. Maximum security from this Wednesday in Brest where the first foreign delegations are due to arrive in the afternoon. In all, it is therefore 1,850 members of the police who will be mobilized for three days under the command of the prefect of Finistère.
Major event
These staff will be responsible for escorting delegations from the airport or station to the Capuchins and ensuring the safety of personalities and places. In addition to the 54 European ministers (the 27 for Defense and the 27 for Foreign Affairs), more than 150 of their employees and 180 journalists from all over Europe will make the trip to the Breton point. They will be accommodated in ten hotels in the country of Brest.
“This is a major event of the French presidency of the European Union, it is the first informal ministerial meeting and the first also outside Paris, explains David Foltz, chief of staff of the prefect of Finistère. Who assures that “the objective is that life continues around, we will not disrupt economic life, social life or transport, it is really especially around the Capuchins that the perimeter will be frozen”.
Drones prohibited
The demonstrations planned for Thursday, that of the teachers and the picnic activist for peace, are authorized. Several security orders have however been issued, including the ban on the use of drones and aircraft until January 14 in the municipalities of Brest, Guipavas, Le Conquet, Plougonvelin and Porspoder.
In terms of health, the protocol will be drastic with the obligation for each participant – including the ministers – to present a negative test of less than 24 hours to enter the Capuchins. The distances will be respected in all circumstances, and the catering will only be seated. An antigenic testing area, an infirmary and an advanced medical station will be installed on the site.
All State teams in Finistère will be mobilized to make this event a success. “We are ready”, assures the prefect, Philippe Mahé. If all goes well, the Brest example could serve as a model for Amiens, Strasbourg and Lille, the next cities to host these ministerial meetings.
Practical Info A common telephone platform has been set up by the city of Brest and the Prefecture of Finistère to inform the public. Two numbers are available to residents: 02 98 00 80 80 (for information on the functioning of municipal services) and 08 11 00 06 29 (for questions of access and security perimeter).