Bill proposal for securing the French economy and defending our industry of sovereignty (Deputy Christophe Plassard)

In a context of economic warfare now well-documented and daily, France faces hundreds of attacks against its strategic companies every year: cyberattacks, industrial espionage, hostile capitalist maneuvers, or extraterritorial legal pressures. Eight out of ten of these aggressions target SMEs, often helpless against competitors with considerable means.

It is to respond to this reality that deputy Christophe Plassard introduces this bill, a direct legislative extension of the parliamentary report on economic warfare presented in July 2025. It revolves around four concrete measures.

Article 1 – The Defense and Sovereignty Savings Account. This new instrument of regulated savings, fiscally exempt, is exclusively dedicated to financing companies in the industrial and technological base of defense (BITD). Sums exceeding 20,000 euros in a Livret A would be automatically transferred to this account. If only 2% of the current Livret A balances were directed there, nearly 10 billion euros could finance our strategic SMEs, directly addressing the needs identified by BPI France.

Article 2 – The Alternative Board of Directors (Proxy Board). Any sensitive company hosting a foreign investor in its capital should establish a board composed exclusively of French nationals, with a right of veto over decisions that could affect the nation’s essential interests. A representative of the state would sit as an observer. A motivated ministerial derogation would remain possible.

Article 3 – Strengthening of the 1968 Blocking Law. Current sanctions, rarely exceeding 18,000 euros, are deemed derisory. The text proposes to raise them to 5 million euros or 10% of turnover for legal entities, and 1 million euros plus five years of imprisonment for individuals, aligning them with offenses infringing on the nation’s fundamental interests.

Article 4 – Obligation to finance authorized exports. Banks will no longer be able to refuse to finance an arms export transaction previously authorized by the CIEEMG, except for objective and documented financial reasons. If not, they must redirect the company to an institution capable of providing this financing.

This bill thus aims to build intelligent defenses: protect our economic independence without giving up openness.