site.btaForeign Minister Confers with French President's Special Envoy for Africa

Caretaker Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov Wednesday met with the French President's Personal Envoy for Africa, Jean-Marie Bockel, the press centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Thursday. During the meeting, Bockel provided an update on the process of reconfiguring France’s relationships with West African countries, which goes beyond military cooperation. 

As part of the process, a report with recommendations for adapting defense partnerships with African nations will soon be released, following President Macron's speech in February 2023 on rethinking France's relations with Africa.

Minister Kondov welcomed Bockel's visit to Bulgaria and praised the progress made in his mission assigned by President Macron. He emphasized the importance of developments in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions and confirmed the need for coordinated efforts between the EU and its Member States to tackle challenges like terrorism, illegal migration, and organized crime. Both sides agreed on the importance of targeted efforts to counter these threats and the growing negative influence of third countries in the region that do not share EU values.

They also shared the view that Africa is a natural partner for the EU, and its future remains strategically important for Europe.

Jean-Marie Bockel was appointed as Special Envoy for Africa by President Macron on February 2, 2024. His current European tour includes visits to Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands.