EU-NATO – France welcomes the strengthening of EU-NATO ties (January 11, 2023)

France welcomes yesterday’s signing of a joint declaration by the EU and NATO aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two organizations.

This declaration reaffirms the importance of a stronger, more operational European defense that contributes positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to and interoperable with NATO. That is what French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden had called for in their joint statement in Rome on October 29, 2021.

France encourages the deepening of cooperation between the EU and NATO, with a concrete road map to ensure European security and act jointly in response to common security challenges and crises, in keeping with the strategic documents of both organizations: the EU’s Strategic Compass and NATO’s Strategic Concept.

In response to the Russian aggression, the EU and NATO have worked together in recent months to provide Ukraine with all the support it needs and to guarantee European security.

Iran

Do you have any comment on Iran’s latest threats concerning Charlie Hebdo? Are new measures being taken to protect French nationals abroad or Charlie Hebdo’s editorial staff?

As the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs said on January 5, “Press freedom exists in France, unlike in Iran, and it is exercised under the supervision of a judge within the framework of an independent judiciary. That too is something that Iran is perhaps somewhat unfamiliar with.”

France reaffirms its unwavering, resolute commitment to the freedom of the press, the freedom of speech, and the protection of journalists worldwide.

Any threat to our nationals is unacceptable. With regard to our compatriots in Iran, we remind the Iranian authorities that they are responsible for the safety of our interests and our citizens in Iran. We also repeat that we strongly discourage any travel to Iran, given the high risk of arbitrary detention by the authorities of that country.