Slovakia –Meeting between Nathalie Loiseau and František Ružička (Paris, 18 January 2019)

Their meeting is part of the strategic bilateral partnership renewed last year. It will help strengthen the many areas of convergence between our two countries, which were reaffirmed during President Macron’s visit to Bratislava on October 26 of last year.

The two ministers will discuss the most pressing European issues:

• Following the House of Commons’ failure on January 15 to ratify the agreement on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, the minister emphasizes that it is now up to the British government to specify the approach it plans to take. She will present preparatory work carried out by France to prepare for the possibility of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU without an agreement.

• Ahead of future European Parliament elections, progress is expected on several issues during the Romanian presidency. With regard to the Mobility Package, France is determined to promote a Europe that protects workers through fair competition between European businesses. Concerning the Copyright Directive, the minister will recall France’s commitment to the fair remuneration of authors as well as adjustments to this system in the digital age. As for the future EU multilateral financial framework, we do not intend to oppose the financing of new priorities and the preservation of traditional policies, in particular the Common Agricultural Policy. The minister will also stress France’s wish to move forward on the taxation of the digital sector. The two ministers will also review work on the future of the euro area, to which Slovakia belongs.