Prime Minister Orpo meets with French President Macron

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday 4 October. Their discussions focused on cooperation between Finland and France, especially in the energy sector, along with topical EU issues. Prime Minister Orpo also had a meeting with French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.

“I think we agree that in the current situation, we need a more active Europe. A Europe that is a stronger global player. A Europe that continues its robust support for Ukraine,” Prime Minister Orpo said when he met with President Macron at the Élysée Palace.

Prime Minister Orpo and President Macron discussed issues that will be on the agenda at the upcoming meetings of European leaders in Granada, Spain. On Thursday, leaders from nearly all countries in Europe will meet to promote cooperation and strengthen support for Ukraine. On Friday, the leaders of the EU Member States will begin a discussion on the EU’s priorities for the coming years. 

“There continues to be broad support for assisting Ukraine. If we are to continue to provide significant arms assistance, we need to strengthen the European defence industry. In addition, we need to offer Ukraine a credible path towards EU membership,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Prime Minister Orpo and President Macron had a long discussion about the EU’s competitiveness, efforts to strengthen defence, future EU enlargement and the Union’s priorities for 2024–2029.

“The EU must improve its economic competitiveness if we are to succeed in the future. A well-functioning single market, fair competition and participation in the global economy play a key role in this. We also need different ways to produce clean energy. France and Finland already cooperate actively in the nuclear power sector,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

While in Paris, Prime Minister Orpo also met with the CEO of the French state-owned electric utility company EDF, Luc Rémont, and with representatives of French companies operating in Finland and a Finnish company operating in France.

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 523 5768 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 07 33, Prime Minister’s Office