Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, took part in an informal joint meeting of EU foreign and home affairs ministers via video conference on March 15, together with Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior.
The meeting was devoted to the EU’s migration policy and its relations with countries of origin and transit. It provided an opportunity to deliver a European message of action and mobilization on a key issue that constitutes one of the pillars of the Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the Commission and which plays an important role in finding a balance between solidarity and responsibility.
Francophonie – International Francophonie Day (20 March) and French Language and Francophonie Week (13-21 March 2021) Share
This week we are celebrating the French language, spoken by 300 million people – most under age 30 – on five continents, and the values it embodies: commitment to the rule of law, democracy, human rights, and equality between men and women. The year’s theme, selected by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), will be “Francophone women, resilient women.” The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ cooperation and cultural action network, the Instituts Français, and French educational establishments (attended by 370,000 students, including 126,000 French and 244,000 foreign students) have joined forces to stage a series of events throughout the week.
Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, was in Rome on March 11-12.
There he met with European Affairs Minister Vincenzo Amendola, with whom he discussed the health situation and the need for Europe-wide coordination on measures to halt the epidemic as well as vaccine strategies. They also spoke about the European recovery effort designed to deal with the economic consequences of the health crisis, the Pact on Migration and Asylum, and reforming the Schengen area. Lastly, they exchanged views on the future bilateral treaty between France and Italy aimed at strengthening cooperation between our two countries.