PM Mitsotakis in Paris: International Law is the only way East Med. differences can be resolved

Following his host's statements, Mitsotakis said that "Greece and France are promoting a new strategic defense framework, and at bilateral level our collaboration will be intensified." The bilateral discussions, he noted, were wide-ranging and in-depth.

Both leaders expressed agreement on a wide range of European issues discussed, Mitsotakis said, adding that they also agreed about the direction of the EU's new fiscal framework.
Speaking of investments, Mitsotakis noted that "as Greece has definitely left behind it the period of the crisis, it looks forward to investments by French businesses. Just as strongly, the Greek government also encourages Greek initiatives in France."

The Greek prime minister also said that he discussed with Macron developments in the eastern Mediterranean and "we jointly condemned Turkey's provocative actions." Calling for the cancellation of the Turkey-Tripoli government memoranda, Mitsotakis said that "the only way to resolve differences in the East Mediterranean is through International Law."

He reiterated that "any political solution in Libya has to include the prerequisite of annulling this memorandum of understanding between Libya and Turkey; an invalid memorandum without any legal effectiveness. This is something recognized - with France's support - at the latest EU Summit and also the stance of the United States, almost the entire Arab world and of Russia." 

Greece and France also agreed on three key issues in the migration issue, where Greece is the first-entry country in the EU and France is the destination country of secondary migration flows, Mitsotakis said: guarding Greece's external borders (especially the eastern ones) is a responsibility of all EU member states and migrant returns must be intensified; the EU-Turkey Joint Statement is still very useful, on condition that Turkey observes it, something Greece encourages; the management of the issue cannot be limited to a national level but is an issue of European solidarity par excellence.

Both leaders agreed that there should be a common European asylum policy, Mitsotakis said, reiterating that there cannot possibly be countries that enjoy the privileges of Schengen - like free movement between countries - but not show a shred of solidarity or contribution to help out in the issue. "This stance can no longer be acceptable at European level," he stressed.

The premier spoke extensively about the improvement of hte economy, and the investments in the energy sector, particularly the EastMed natural gas pipeline. Mitsotakis also thanked personally Macron and France for supporting Greece's effort to call for lower primary surplus targets. 

President Macron: France supports Greece's and Cyprus' sovereign rights

France and Greece share the same vision, French President Emmanuel Macron said at the joint press conference with visiting Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

Macron referred to the issue of security in the East Mediterranean and the wider region of the East, and condemned Turkey's agreement with the Tripoli government on the delineation of maritime zones. "France supports Greece and Cyprus in terms of respect for their sovereign rights, condemning Turkey's challenge of these. We repeated our concerns and condemned unequivocally the Turkey-Libya agreement," he said.
In recent days, he said, "we are seeing Turkish ships with mercenaries arrive at Libya's shores, and this is a blatant violation of Libya's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he stressed. 

In terms of security, Greece and France will create by end-June a strategic partnership for security that will be further clarified after the visit to Athens of the French defense minister on February 24.

The French president also spoke of the Greek-French collaboration in industry and in joint operations at sea and land. "We would like to see other countries with shared borders become involved," he noted.
The two country leaders also discussed economic relations between the two countries and said more should be done to increase investments, "opening a new chapter in the history of your country and  in bilateral relations," as Macron said.

In addition, the French president expressed his country's support on the migration issue and said France will help in the return of irregular migrants to their countries, while he also expressed the hope that a new European plan on asylum and migration will be adopted by all EU members, promoting a joint migration policy.

He also referred to Brexit, adding that the EU must build a new close-knit relation with the United Kingdom, which is "leaving the EU but not Europe", a relationship that will strengthen the EU and lead to a more effective, sovereign and better Europe.

"I will also visit Greece in the near future because there is a historic appointment and France has always stood by you. Our two countries were always significant in history and that's why we are close to one another," Macron said.

PM Mitsotakis meets with 24 French multinationals

Mitsotakis met with representatives of 24 French multinationals in the fields of energy, defense, construction, waste management, technology, insurance, tourism and beverages, shortly after his meeting with French president Macron.

Mitsotakis thanked the French business world for its support to Greece during the financial crisis and called on companies to take advantage of the opportunities now open in the country, for sustainable tourism, infrastructural upgrades, innovative renewable energy projects and the modernization of the air traffic system.

Following his meeting and press conference with Macron, Mitsotakis also met with Total's CEO Patrick Pouyanne, to get an update on current developments in the East Mediterranean.