French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met in Paris on Tuesday, reaffirming the strong strategic partnership between their nations and France’s commitment to Greece’s security.
The leaders also discussed bolstering European defense, supporting Ukraine, and advancing Europe’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence (AI) and green technology.
In a statement released by the Élysée Palace, the two leaders emphasized the need to strengthen European defense and industrial capabilities ahead of the European Commission’s upcoming White Paper on defense, expected this spring. They also addressed international issues, including unwavering support for Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Mr. Macron and Mr. Mitsotakis expressed confidence in the European Union’s ability to become a global leader in developing a competitive, attractive, and independent AI ecosystem. They called for the swift implementation of an ambitious European roadmap for AI, focusing on investments, innovation, and competitiveness.
The leaders also discussed accelerating the EU’s competitiveness plan, following the Draghi report, which emphasizes simplifying EU regulations, decarbonizing industrial production, reducing strategic dependencies, and ensuring fair competition. Additionally, they explored ways to boost public and private investments in climate and digital transitions.
The meeting underscored the deepening ties between France and Greece, as both nations work to address shared challenges and advance Europe’s strategic autonomy in an increasingly complex global landscape.