French President Emmanuel Macron paid his first official visit to Slovenia, aiming to boost bilateral relations and explore cooperation in key sectors. During his trip from 20–21 October, Macron attended the MED9 summit in Portorož alongside other Mediterranean EU leaders, visited the port of Koper, and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Robert Golob. The visit saw the signing of agreements on education and a declaration of intent for long-term nuclear energy cooperation, potentially influencing Slovenia’s decision for the planned Krško 2 nuclear reactor.
Macron and Golob also highlighted the strategic role of Slovenia in regional trade and industry. At the port of Koper, Luka Koper and French shipping company CMA CGM signed a declaration to strengthen maritime and rail connectivity between Slovenia, Central Europe, and Asia.
The leaders further visited the Revoz car assembly plant, emphasizing the importance of the new electric Twingo production for Europe’s automotive competitiveness and industry.
The visit reaffirmed Slovenia and France’s strong partnership, with Macron noting agreements further strengthened the 14-year-old strategic relationship. Both leaders also voiced support for a just resolution in Ukraine, the US peace plan for Gaza, and increased cooperation in nuclear energy, logistics, and space technologies. Bilateral trade between the countries reached €3.2 billion in 2024, with vehicles and vehicle parts representing the largest share.
