The French Embassy in Athens marked France’s national holiday — Bastille Day on 14 July — with a ceremony held at the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Greek government representation was led by Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy Vassilis Kikilias, while MPs and senior government officials also attended.
A Farewell Address Rooted in Partnership
Outgoing French Ambassador to Greece Laurence Auer delivered her farewell address in both French and Greek, visibly moved as she concluded her tenure in Athens. She underscored the continuous deepening of the Greece-France strategic partnership, describing it as a forward-looking alliance that has evolved into a multidimensional cooperation extending far beyond defence.
Beyond Defence: A Broad-Based Alliance
Ambassador Auer emphasized that while defence remains the cornerstone of the strategic relationship — reflecting the shared commitment “to jointly defend the European continent and our common values” — collaboration now spans economics, innovation, energy, civil protection, and broader European cooperation.
She highlighted joint military exercises such as Heniochos and Orion 26, the participation of Greek Rafale fighter jets in the Paris military parade on the Champs-Élysées, and the historic first appearance of a Greek Army unit equipped with Leopard tanks in the 14 July parade in Paris.
Naval Cooperation and Maritime Security
Naval ties featured prominently in her remarks: the arrival of the first French-built Belharra-class frigate Kimon in Greece, joint operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, and cooperation on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. She also praised Greece’s leadership of the EU’s Aspides naval operation, noting how its geographic position makes it vital for safeguarding sea lanes.
Innovation, Investment, and Civil Protection
Auer pointed to the April signing of an enhanced strategic partnership agreement as a turning point — one that added new European and economic dimensions to bilateral ties, particularly in innovation, technology, and industrial collaboration. She cited the joint declaration of intent on nuclear energy cooperation as a key example, and noted ongoing French investment in Greek railways, infrastructure, services, and financial sectors.
On civil protection, she referenced the deployment of French firefighters to Greece during wildfire season — and the reciprocal presence of Greek firefighters in southern France — calling these exchanges a model of European solidarity. She also welcomed the implementation of the agreement to procure eight Airbus H225 search-and-rescue helicopters, which will strengthen interoperability between the two countries’ emergency response systems.
A Historic Bond
In closing, Ambassador Auer reflected on the longstanding historical ties between Greece and France, making special mention of Eugène Delacroix’s iconic painting The Massacre at Chios — a powerful symbol of French philhellenism and enduring cultural kinship.