81. In keeping with the overall tasks dictated by law, this White Paper identifies specific missions for the Armed Forces. These are guidelines for the subsequent review of the military component and for military development and planning in general. They are: FIRST MISSION: Defence of the State. Consists of defending the State against all types of aggression in order to safeguard: national territory; the vital interests of the Nation; the security of areas of national sovereignty and of Italian citizens abroad; the security of lines of access to the nation. SECOND MISSION: Defence of the Euro-Atlantic and Euro-Mediterranean area. It consists of contributing to NATO’s collective defence and to maintaining stability in areas on the Mediterranean Sea, in order to protect the vital and strategic interests of the Nation. THIRD MISSION: Contributing to the development of peace and international security. In the context of international crisis management, consists of participating in operations to prevent and manage crises outside priority intervention areas, in order to ensure peace, security, stability and international law, as well as fundamental human rights according to the UN Charter. FOURTH MISSION: Specific tasks and joint operations. It consists of contributing to the protection of the institutions and of carrying out specific tasks in the event of public calamities and other cases of extraordinary need and urgency. - 42 -