security effort: qualitative aspects and policies other than defence alone must be taken into account. European cooperation initiatives in the area of equipment must also be promoted. 5. Promoting and federating national competencies so as to develop a competitive technological and industrial base capable of contributing to NATO and EU capability requirements. The existence of a technological and industrial base that is competitive on the international market is a central, strategic element enabling Luxembourg, the EU Member States and the Allies to assume their obligations in the long term. Developing a national Defence Technological and Industrial Base is a useful means of contributing to military capability building and decision-making autonomy in line with policy choices made in the area of crisis management. Those capabilities and services – particularly in the areas of information gathering and data transmission, storage, processing and analysis – form moreover part of the critical infrastructure that must be protected against hostile action. 3. Fostering coherent management of the full range of crisis-prevention and crisis-response tools. Domestic and external security issues are linked and the threats are complex, such that a coordinated approach to security issues is essential. Luxembourg supports a consistent and integrated approach that promotes democracy, sustainable development and prosperity to combat factors of instability. This requires coherent implementation of a set of tools not fully available to any single player and which touch on areas other than just defence (development aid, environment, etc.). Various forms of partnership with the private sector enable new capabilities to be developed using innovative methods, generally in the area of ‘dual-use’ (civilian and military) capabilities. This approach also involves promoting research and development for emerging niches of excellence. To this end, a strategy aiming to establish a national technology, innovation and research base will be developed. 4. Decision-making autonomy. Luxembourg seeks to develop capabilities that it fully controls, over which it will have assured availability and security, that will remain autonomous and that will afford visibility of Luxembourg’s security policy approach. Autonomy in decision-making allows Luxembourg to honour its commitments and to engage its support and sustainment capabilities while respecting its values and priorities. 6. Defence in tune with national realities. The defence organization and the armed forces are an integral part of Luxembourg society. Luxembourg’s defence policy must promote an evolution of the army and of the defence investment effort that reflects Luxembourg society – open, multicultural, dynamic, modern, technological and solidarity-oriented. 15