Bulgaria – Meeting between Catherine Colonna and her Bulgarian counterpart, Mariya Gabriel (Dec. 7, 2023)

On December 7, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna hosted the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel.

In the lead-up to the December gatherings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the European Council, this meeting was an opportunity to recall our countries’ shared determination to offer Ukraine our unwavering support in every area and over the long term. The Ministers also discussed the enlargement of the European Union, as well as the reforms and the agenda that the EU must put in place in preparation for enlargement. Their conversation also covered the situation in Israel and Gaza, efforts to redefine the EU’s projects in the Sahel, and the situation in the Caucasus.

The Minister recalled the support that France provides to both Bulgaria and Romania with a view to their joining the Schengen area.

Lastly, regarding bilateral relations, the meeting was a chance to talk about cooperation in different areas of shared interest, namely with regard to civilian nuclear power.

Sweden – Meeting between Catherine Colonna and her Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billström (Dec. 7, 2023)

On Thursday, December 7, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna hosted the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström. This meeting offered the chance to applaud the longstanding, long-term friendly relations between France and Sweden at a time when our economic ties are increasingly close and dynamic.

The Ministers addressed several global current events, underscoring the need to continue supporting Ukraine in every area and over the long term, in addition to discussing the situation in the Middle East. They stressed their shared concerns and commitment to peace and security in these two regions.

The Minister reiterated her support for Sweden in its efforts to join NATO. As the Minister indicated during the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on November 28, Turkey and Hungary must henceforth ratify Sweden’s accession protocol as soon as possible.

Luxembourg – Meeting between Catherine Colonna and her Luxembourgish counterpart, Xavier Bettel (Dec. 7, 2023)

On Thursday, December 7, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna will be hosting the Luxembourgish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Xavier Bettel.

The Ministers will touch upon the excellent cooperation between France and Luxembourg, and, in particular, the fact that this cross-border cooperation is close-knit and well organized, with over 120,000 cross-border workers benefitting from our countries’ effective coordination.

Next, the Ministers will cover a number of global current events. Firstly, they will address the topic of support for Ukraine, reaffirming the need for Europe to maintain a united front. They will also talk about the situation in the Middle East, recalling the urgent need for humanitarian assistance after the follow-up meeting to the Conference for the Civilian Population in Gaza.

Lastly, Catherine Colonna will speak with her counterpart about the main agenda items for the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting (December 11, 2023), recalling that Luxembourg is a trusted European partner with whom France agrees on many issues.