Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will receive Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Poland's Deputy Minister responsible for Polish Nationals Abroad, European Policy and Public and Cultural Diplomacy, today.

Amélie de Montchalin and her interlocutor will notably discuss the implementation of the decisions adopted during President Macron's visit to Warsaw on February 3 aimed at strengthening our bilateral relations and cooperation on our shared European priorities, notably including economic and industrial policy and the fight against climate change. They will take stock of preparations for the Conference on the Future of Europe in order to strengthen European democracy and increase the effectiveness of EU policies. They will discuss EU support for the Western Balkans and the reform of the enlargement process on the basis of the European Commission's proposals, in preparation for the forthcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb.

This meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss the follow-up to the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle (France, Poland and Germany) on January 21 in Lens which resulted in a joint statement relating in particular to climate, the building of a social Europe, industrial policy and respect for the rule of law.

Haiti – Suspension of international adoption in Haiti (March 11, 2020)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued an order to suspend international adoption in Haiti for a period of three months from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the French Republic.

This difficult decision was taken in light of the current security situation in the country.

This decision applies to prospective adoptive parents living in France who have not been matched with a child as of the date of entry into force of the order.

The local security situation will be reassessed before the expiry of the suspension period.

Ukraine

Yesterday the head of the Ukrainian Choice—People's Right movement, Viktor Medvedchuk, announced the creation of a working group focusing on a meeting of parliamentarians from the Normandy Format countries. How do you view the future of this group? Will its work be effective? When would such a group meet?

This is an initiative put forth by parliamentarians, and it is up to them to clarify their intentions. This type of initiative seems to support the efforts led by the trilateral contact group and the heads of state and government of the Normandy Format countries.

COVID-19 – Egypt

Can you confirm that the French passengers aboard a cruise ship in Luxor, Egypt, were brought back to Paris yesterday evening? In what circumstances? What is their health status?

Our 38 compatriots who were being quarantined aboard a cruise ship in Luxor returned to France last night aboard a regular Cairo-Paris Air France flight thanks to the combined efforts of tour operators, our embassy in Cairo, the Crisis and Support Center of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Egyptian officials. The French nationals were authorized by local health authorities to leave the country.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of France in Egypt are closely monitoring the situation of the 17 French nationals hospitalized in Egypt.

Mali

One of the main jihadist alliances in the Sahel said it is ready to begin negotiations with Bamako provided that France and the UN withdraw their forces from Mali. Could a discussion be considered under such conditions?

We are fighting armed terrorist groups in the Sahel at the request of States in the region and in particular Mali, and we will continue to do so as part of the Coalition for the Sahel launched in Pau. Collective action in the Sahel also stresses stabilization, development, reconciliation, and taking into account the needs of communities, in order to dry up sources of recruitment for armed terrorist groups. We share the Malian authorities' concern that there be no impunity for the perpetrators of terrorist acts, in accordance with Malian law.