French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, February 26, 2024. (source: AP - Lewis Joly)
For three decades, The Slovak Spectator has been a trusted source for Slovakia’s diplomatic community. Marking this milestone, we turned to some of the ambassadors currently serving in Bratislava with a question: What moments or achievements in their relations with Slovakia stand out as the most significant – and why?
The following piece was contributed by Nicolas Suran, French Ambassador to Slovakia.
Not long before your birth, in 1993, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic became the first government representative of any country to visit the newly independent Slovak Republic.
Since then, France and Slovakia have strengthened their cooperation across a wide range of sectors. French automotive giants have established production facilities in Slovakia, creating thousands of jobs in the Slovak labour market. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both countries have reinforced their military cooperation and stand united in addressing shared threats.
In 2008, the first strategic partnership between France and Slovakia was signed, marking a crucial step in the evolution of bilateral relations. This partnership, renewed every five years since, remains an asset for France, Slovakia, and the European Union. The latest action plan, updated in May 2023, sets out a framework for political, defence, economic, administrative, and academic cooperation between our two countries until 2027, strengthening bilateral ties in the face of growing common challenges.
As one of the world’s leading languages, the promotion of the French language and culture plays a particularly important role in our bilateral relations. The opening of the French International School of Bratislava in 2003, the creation of the Franco-Slovak University Institute, and the introduction of bilingual programmes in Slovak schools provide students with education in both Slovak and French – an asset for their future careers. Furthermore, the activities of the French Institute in Bratislava and the Alliance Française in Košice and Banská Bystrica make learning French accessible to children and adults alike, contributing significantly to our cultural ties. These programmes enable Slovaks to work and study in France. Currently, an estimated 350 Slovak students are enrolled in French universities, while 176 French students study in Slovak universities – an embodiment of European mobility and cooperation.
In May 2023, during his historic visit to Slovakia, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, participated in the GLOBSEC Bratislava Global Security Forum. In his closing speech, he redefined our vision of EU enlargement: “I do not believe there is a ‘Western’ Europe and an ‘Eastern’ Europe, an ‘old’ Europe and a ‘new’ Europe. [...] There is only one Europe.” France and Slovakia share common values and interests, with both countries committed to democracy, the rule of law, and multilateralism. Amid rising global challenges, Franco-Slovak cooperation on tackling climate change, advancing artificial intelligence, strengthening European defence, and ensuring energy security has reached an all-time high – reinforcing the European Union as a whole.
Like General Milan Rastislav Štefánik, a national hero of both Slovakia and France, whose personal motto was “To Believe, To Love, To Work”, we will continue to believe, love, and work together to deepen ties between France and Slovakia – and to forge ever closer relations among all the nations of the European Union.
French Ambassador to Slovakia Nicolas Suran (source: French Embassy in Slovakia)
