Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault is visiting Burma from June 17-19. This is the first official French visit since the new government was sworn in.

Mr. Ayrault came to show French support for Burma's democratic transition. He met with Aung San Suu Kyi this morning and announced a significant increase in French aid to the country. The French development agency (AFD) will pledge 200 million euros for the period of 2016-2018 to fund jointly identified priorities: urban development, health and energy.

This 200 million euro package will be devoted mainly to the following projects:

• 40 million euros for drinking water in Mandalay
• 50 million euros to monitor fishing
• 25 million euros for an irrigation project in Burma's "dry zone"
• 20 million euros for a laboratory in Rangoon specialized in emerging diseases
• urban development projects in Rangoon.

Since 2012, the AFD has provided more than 22 million euros in subsidies for agriculture and rural development, health, improving living conditions, and drinking water.

French food aid will be doubled in 2016 to 1.4 million euros.

European Union – Jean-Marc Ayrault at the Foreign Affairs Council (Luxembourg - June 20, 2016)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Jean-Marc Ayrault will attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on June 20.

The ministers will discuss the following points:

• the Middle East peace process. The ministers will adopt conclusions, review steps taken following the conference hosted by France on June 3, and discuss efforts by the Quartet.
• the Sahel. The ministers will discuss the situation in the region, particularly in Mali, as well as cooperation with the G5 Sahel, and the fight against irregular migration.
• the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. They will discuss facilitation efforts by the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.
• Visa liberalization with Georgia and Ukraine. The foreign ministers will review this process in the wake of efforts by the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
• Arctic. The Council will adopt an EU strategy on the Arctic.

Council of Europe – Matthias Fekl in Strasbourg (June 17, 2016)

Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad Matthias Fekl is traveling to Strasbourg today for talks with Thorbjørn Jagland, secretary-general of the Council of Europe.

He will close the Joint Meeting of the Council of Europe Development Bank.

Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the founding of this financial institution, this visit underscores France's commitment to the Council of Europe and its socially oriented Development Bank, which is headquartered in Paris.

Launch of online registration for French nationals living abroad

Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, presented the new online registration service for French nationals living abroad yesterday.

Previously, registration had to be completed in person at our consulates, but as of June 15, it can now be completed online at service-public.fr.

Our goal is to simplify administrative procedures for French citizens living abroad, including for example applications for passports and scholarships. Inclusion in the register of French nationals living abroad will also make it possible—especially in light of the upcoming elections in 2017—to register online on the consular electoral list or ask to be removed from a list if you are planning to return to France.

Out of 2.5 million French nationals living abroad, 1.7 million are now included in the register of French nationals living abroad at our consulates. This registration service also makes it possible to provide our compatriots living abroad with better information, notably with respect to security situations, arrangements for the holding of elections and timetables for consular visits. This service will also benefit French nationals who are planning to move abroad or who are returning to France.

For more information, please visit: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/services-aux-citoyens/inscription-consulaire-et-communaute-francaise/article/pourquoi-et-comment-s-inscrire-au-registre-des-francais-etablis-hors-de-france

Development / Expertise France – Visit by André Vallini, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie (Paris - June 17, 2016)

André Vallini, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie, visited the headquarters of Expertise France, the French agency for international technical expertise. He met with the teams working for this agency, which is responsible for the development and implementation of international technical cooperation projects and discussed its strategic priorities.

During his visit, André Vallini reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting this agency. With a business volume of €120 million, a portfolio of more than 300 projects in 80 countries and 63,000 man-days of expertise provided in 2015, Expertise France is a leading player in the European international technical expertise sector.

Mali – Implementation of the peace and reconciliation agreement

A year after the signing in Bamako of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, reached through the "Algiers process," France welcomes the progress made with respect to the forthcoming establishment of interim authorities in the communities in the northern part of the country.

France reaffirms its support for the parties, the Malian government and the signatory groups. It encourages them to fully implement the agreement without delay, in order to bring lasting peace to Mali.

We are committed, together with the UN, the EU and all of our partners, to ensuring Mali's stabilization.