Today, July 14, is its national holiday France“A celebration that sets as a primary goal of highlighting national unity,” as explains in her interview with RES-EIA. France’s ambassador to Greece, Lorenes Auer. And this year, “in Athens, we celebrate, along with the partners of Greek -French cooperation, our joint actions in the fields of politics, defense, French -speaking and university collaborations,” he says.
Today’s day, however, is also the occasion not only to look back and remember the past and how we came to the establishment of the national holiday of France, but also to record the course, evolution and “today” of Greek -French relations in Political, economic, but cultural and Educational level.
OR Mr. Auer answers these questions and states that he feels “very proud” that he promotes “a Greek -French relationship, supporting a number of practical actions of facilitating, differentiation and deepening of cooperation” in the last two years, which has been at the helm of French diplomacy in Greece.
It also describes how the ‘strategic partnership signed by the President of the (French) Republic is implemented, Emmanuel Macron and the prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis In September 2021 “, he talks about the financial relations of the two states and stresses that they have intensified in the last year, citing specific investments of French companies in Greece.
In addition, it refers to the level of Greece-France relations in the field of defense, but also in the field of culture and, as she says, “I can only be satisfied with the quality of Greek-French relations.”
The whole text of the interview of the French ambassador to Greece, Lorenes Auer, at the Athens-Macedonian News Agency is as follows:
Q: July 14th, National Feast of France … And, sometimes, we have to look back and remember the past …
A: “The annual national holiday of France was established through a 1880 law, setting as a honored date on July 14, 1790. It is recalled that on July 14, 1789, the people of Paris lifted the Bastille, giving it a more active participation in a more active participation. The following year, the editorial assembly becomes a symbol of the recovery of national unity, judging that the revolutionary movement was completed by achieving the establishment of the Constitution. On July 14, 1790, representatives of all counties gathered in Paris for the Federation’s Day, which remains the greatest celebration of national unity in the history of France to date.
It is clear that history never has a linear evolution: the 19th century has been decisive in the establishment of national minds in Europe, including Greece, where the revolution begins just six years after the end of the Napoleon period. I also recall that, among those who fought for Greek independence, there were former Greek soldiers of the French Imperial Army, about 4,500. These Greeks had served the revolutionary ideals throughout Europe, from Egypt to Austrlic and to Waterloo. In conclusion, the symbolism of July 14 is clear: it is a celebration that sets as a primary goal of highlighting national unity. In Athens, we celebrate, along with the partners of Greek -French cooperation, our joint actions in the fields of politics, defense, French -speaking and university partnerships. ”
Q: I call you again, this time, but this time, in the short past. You took office two years ago. How did you feel that first day and how do you feel today?
A: “I am very proud to promote the Greek -French relationship, supporting a multitude of practical actions facilitation, differentiation and deepening of our cooperation. We have made great efforts for French businesses to return to Greece and find joint investment opportunities in the context of Europe’s re -industrialization and the convergence at the level of capital markets. The Chamber of Commerce, foreign trade consultants, French Tech and the new Business France team are working tirelessly for this audience.
The Greek -French relationship is also rich in the human bonds that make up it throughout the territory, while the present context of international crises is offered for even closer contacts. Indicatively, I mention the Greek graduates of French universities (Alumni), the students of Greek schools who learn French, and, of course, our excellent cooperation at the level of ministers, in areas such as civil protection, the protection of the oceans and forests, and the bilateral diplomacy with Europe. Greece is one of the pillars of the domestic market, it is a historic ally of France in Europe, as – moreover – to the UN Security Council, beyond and above the purely defense issues that are often up to date. “
Q: For decades now Greek -French relations are multilevel …
A: “The strategic partnership signed by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in September 2021, is a pillar of the bilateral Greek -French relationship. It is supported and daily through large bilateral contacts, since my arrival in August in 2023 until today 9 visits to French ministers have taken place to Greece, as well as 6 more visits of senators and MPs, without expanding the diplomats, the executives. These visits confirm in the best way the density of Greek -French political relations.
In the particularly important area of defense, more than 200 bilateral military exercises are performed each year. Recently, in the wider area of Volos, about 1,000 soldiers from the two countries and boats of our naval forces participated in the Amphibian ARGO2025 exercise. Such exercises, as well as the habits acquired by the steady cooperation of our military, upgrade the interoperability of the Armed Forces, in combination with the markets of Rafale fighter jets and FDI frigates. I would also like to emphasize our cooperation in Civil Protection, thanks to qualitative assistance in dealing with forest fires.
In the purely political field, I welcome the work of Greece and France within the United Nations Security Council-in which Greece joined for the two years 2025-2026-as well as other international diplomatic fora, such as the UNC Summit for Artificial Intelligence or the United Nations Conference on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. And I point out the complete sympathy of views observed between Greece and France in European institutions, in decisive areas, such as re -industrialization, re -equipment and investment in innovative technologies of the future. “
Q: As for Greek -French relations at the economic and business level, as important as important …
A: “Indeed, our economic relations were further intensified last year, as a large number of French companies have chosen to invest again in Greece, a sign that the country has left the crisis behind it. Thus, in 2024-2025, the French company Data4 started the construction of a Data Center costs 300m euros in Koropi, Airbus signed a contract with the Ministry of Civil Protection on the acquisition of fire helicopters, while the French-Italian consortium EGIS and ATM was in operation.
These iconic investments are framed by the less obvious, but equally decisive action of the Embassy’s Financial Service, Business France, the Greek -French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French Tech, with the aim of highlighting French businesses in Greece. The result is that France’s market share in Greece has an encouraging increase of 4.7%.
As I mentioned before, Greece and France’s views on European issues are largely identical, and the economy sector is no exception. The two countries have already begun to exchange views on the future of European funding programs to be examined. Our common initiatives also relate to the European electricity market to improve its operation and reduce the costs for consumers. And I am glad that a mission of businessmen under the French Association of MEDEF was visited in Athens in June 2025, organizing high -level meetings with the Greek authorities on specific future plans. “
Qurate, of course, when we talk about Greek -French relations, no one can not include and interested in the course of relationships at culture …
A: “And in this area I can only be satisfied with the quality of Greek -French relations. The actions of the French Institute of Greece include major events that, over the years, have gained striking popularity: the Philosophy Festival, the French -speaking Film Festival, the French -speaking awards and more. The teaching of the French language in Greek schools continues dynamically. It is the second foreign language in number of students, and, in general, it is estimated that, at 10.5 million in the country’s population, 750,000 people speak French.
In the field of art, the links are just as powerful, with the participation, on an almost annual basis, French actors and directors at the Athens -Epidaurus Festival, but also thanks to the reception of artists to cultural institutions in France. Finally, I could not overlook the important work of the French Archaeological School, which contributes to the promotion of the historical heritage of Greece, but also to the deepening of academic knowledge through studies conducted by prominent researchers, who hosts each year. “
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