Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Paris, October 21, 2014)

Death of Mr. Christophe de Margerie – Statement by Mr. Laurent Fabius
EU – Outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council (Luxembourg, October 20, 2014)
Meeting between Mr. Harlem Désir and Ms. Lenita Toivakka, Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade (Paris, October 22, 2014)
Foreign trade – Visit by Mr. Matthias Fekl to the International Food Show (Paris, October 21, 2014)

Death of Mr. Christophe de Margerie – Statement by Mr. Laurent Fabius

The tragic death of Christophe de Margerie is a profound shock to France and French industry.

The chief executive of Total cared passionately about his company which he expanded internationally and put at the forefront of innovation. Outspoken and deeply attached to France, Christophe de Margerie was a man of vision.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all Total employees; he was an exceptional business leader who successfully promoted France.

EU – Outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council (Luxembourg, October 20, 2014)

Mr. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, participated in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg yesterday. The European ministers focused mainly on the following points:

Iraq/ Syria/ Daesh: The ministers indicated that the military operations needed to go hand in hand with strengthened diplomatic, security and humanitarian efforts. They asked the high representative to develop a regional strategy to that end. The EU reaffirmed its readiness to support the Iraqi government. It has strengthened its sanctions against the Syrian regime;

- Ukraine: The ministers noted a decrease in violence on the ground. They stressed the need for compliance with the ceasefire, the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the smooth conduct of the parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sunday, throughout the territory. The member states also launched a civilian mission to help the Ukrainian authorities reform the security sector;

Ebola: The ministers stressed the importance of developing a common pool of volunteer experts who can be swiftly deployed to the affected countries. They reached an agreement to ensure that international medical personnel will receive appropriate care on the ground or through medical evacuations. The member states also decided to shortly appoint a coordinator responsible for ensuring the coherence of the actions of the EU, the member states and the UN.

Meeting between Mr. Harlem Désir and Ms. Lenita Toivakka, Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade (Paris, October 22, 2014)

Mr. Harlem Désir, Minister of State for European Affairs, will tomorrow receive Ms. Lenita Toivakka, Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade. This will be their first meeting since Ms. Toivakka’s appointment in June.

This meeting follows the visit to Paris by Mr. Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister of Finland, in October.

In the run-up to the European Council on October 23 and 24, the discussions will focus on the agenda for growth and jobs in Europe, as well as energy and climate issues.

Foreign trade – Visit by Mr. Matthias Fekl to the International Food Show (Paris, October 21, 2014)

Mr. Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, visited the International Food Show this morning. This show, which takes place every two years in Paris, brings together 6,000 exhibitors – 85% of whom are foreigners – and attracts 150,000 visitors from a wide range of countries.

The agri-food sector accounts for France’s second largest trade surplus. With 18,000 export firms (out of a total of 122,000), France is the world’s fifth largest exporter in this sector. The agri-food sector is the second largest industrial employer in France (15% of industrial jobs) and accounts for 2% of GDP.

Mr. Matthias Fekl will address industry professionals at the National Food Industry Agency’s conference. He will outline our strategy to strengthen the international competitiveness of French companies.