French President Emmanuel Macron arrived today, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, for an official visit to Bratislava, Slovakia coinciding with the Globsec Bratislava Forum.
President Emmanuel Macron met with his counterpart, President Zuzana Čaputová of Slovakia in Bratislava, and discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in the fields of industry and energy. They exchanged views on the security situation and the war in Ukraine. They also addressed the issue of combating disinformation.
Macron emphasized that Slovakia is a reliable partner for France within the European Union and NATO. At the same time, he praised Slovakia and President Čaputová for their consistent stance on the war in Ukraine and the assistance provided to their eastern neighbors.
During the meeting, they signed a strategic partnership action plan for the coming years, aiming to foster closer cooperation in the areas of economy, science, research, education, and energy,” Čaputová announced at a joint briefing with the French President. Leading energy companies also signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy and the development of clean hydrogen technologies.
Čaputová and Macron also discussed the fight against disinformation in their respective countries and across Europe. They agreed that the fundamental values of democratic Europe are currently being questioned. Čaputová drew attention to the fact that Slovakia is currently facing significant misinformation related to the upcoming elections.
In addition to bilateral talks, President Emmanuel Macron participated in the Globsec Bratislava Forum.
