Czech Republic – Meetings held by Jean-Yves Le Drian and Amélie de Montchalin with the Czech minister of foreign affairs (Paris, 5 June 2019)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will receive his Czech counterpart, Tomas Petricek, today for a working meeting.

This meeting builds on the momentum established by President Macron’s visit to Prague in October 2018 and falls within the framework of the strategic partnership renewed in June 2018. The two ministers will discuss prospects for enhancing bilateral cooperation, notably in the areas of energy and defense. They will also discuss key international issues, notably in Africa where the Czech Republic and France are jointly committed to promoting the stability and development of the Sahel.

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will also meet with Tomas Petricek to discuss key European issues, in the run-up to the European Council meeting on June 20 and 21. They will notably discuss the consequences of the European Parliament elections, the European Union’s future strategic plan and the expectations for the future French and Czech presidencies of the Council of the European Union, which will follow one another in 2022.

Jean-Yves Le Drian and Amélie de Montchalin will express France’s desire to continue a meaningful dialogue with the Visegrad Group, the presidency of which the Czech Republic is due to assume from July 1.