Czech Republic – Meeting between Amélie de Montchalin with Aleš Chmelař (Paris, 12 November 2019)

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, received Ales Chmelar, Czech Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, responsible for European Affairs, on Tuesday, November 12. This meeting falls within the framework of the strategic partnership between France and the Czech Republic, renewed on June 30, 2018, at the Élysée Palace.

The two ministers reaffirmed the shared commitment of Paris and Prague to key forward-looking sectors including innovation, the space industry, nuclear energy, and European defense. This ambitious bilateral cooperation supports the goals of the EU strategic agenda for 2019–2024.

The discussions also focused on the negotiations on the future EU budget, climate and energy challenges and the European prospects of the Western Balkan countries.

The two ministers welcomed the wealth of French-Czech initiatives in support of culture and knowledge, which will be marked in 2020 by the 100th anniversary of the Institut français in Prague and the Czech section in Dijon. Ms. de Montchalin encouraged these initiatives aimed at strengthening European unity based on shared values, such as the project to monitor the teaching of history, spearheaded by the French presidency of the Council of Europe.

Lastly, Ms. de Montchalin reaffirmed France’s attachment to dialogue with the Visegrad Group, currently chaired by the Czech Republic.