On July 14, H. E. Mr. Joël Meyer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria, and his wife Mrs. Zoé Meyer

hosted a reception on the occasion of the country’s national holiday – Bastille Day. The hall and garden of the Boyana Residence were filled with guests who came to honor the date that changed the history of Europe and the world. Among those present were: Mrs. Natalia Kiselova, Chair of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs. Iliana Yotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Deputy Prime Ministers and members of the government, former Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers, MPs, mayors, regional governors, representatives of religious communities, officers and defense officials, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Bulgaria, heads of diplomatic missions and representations of international organizations, consuls, French citizens living in Bulgaria, and friends of France.

H. E. Mr. Joël Meyer first said: "Welcome to all!" and greeted the Sofia Francophone Choir, one of the newest vocal and musical ensembles on Sofia’s stage, who performed the national anthems of Bulgaria, France, and the EU. "My warm thanks to all the choir members and especially to their conductor, Mr. Michel Solot, for sharing their talent with us. I wish them every success in their beautiful and bold artistic endeavor," said His Excellency, and continued:

Dear guests,

Zoé and I are delighted to welcome you once again to this beautiful Boyana Residence to celebrate together the national holiday of France. Thank you all for being here. I would like to express our special gratitude to you, Madam Vice President of the Republic. Please know that we deeply value your continuous support for strengthening the friendship between Bulgaria and France, and for Francophonie, of course.

Without testing your patience, allow me to say a few words about the development of relations between France and Bulgaria in recent months. More than ever, our ambition is to place our cooperation within the European framework whenever possible. The aim is to give greater strength to our common commitments, but also to consolidate Europe, which today must be able to independently face the major challenges it encounters, by acquiring its own strategic capacities. The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has just reminded us how urgent this is, militarily, industrially, and economically. In this context, today the increasingly close partnership between France and Bulgaria follows the course of European history in two particularly important strategic sectors – civilian nuclear energy and defense.

I believe this also reflects the meaning of the support that we, French and Bulgarians alike, continue to provide to Ukraine in its struggle against the aggression of Mr. Putin’s regime, as we strive to reject the new law of the strongest, which seeks to impose itself brutally not only against the Ukrainian people, but also against Europe and its democratic values. In this regard, the participation of the Bulgarian Prime Minister in the "coalition of the willing" and his proposals for ensuring security in the Black Sea are of great importance.

Moreover, because it is Europe’s duty to contribute to the stability of its immediate neighborhood, France, together with many other European countries, advocates for peace in a Middle East free of terrorism, where two states – Israeli and Palestinian – will finally exist side by side in safety.

In this Europe, which must be stronger, Bulgaria is a voice that matters and is listened to. It has already found its rightful place at the heart of the European Union and possesses many assets to strengthen collective cohesion. In this regard, France welcomes Bulgaria’s full integration into the Schengen area, as well as its guaranteed prospect of joining the Eurozone. This membership, along with continued efforts toward convergence, will also be a powerful driver of exchange, from which Bulgarian citizens will benefit most of all.

We can also only support the government’s intentions, following in the footsteps of its predecessors, to complete the reform process aimed at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and anti-corruption bodies. Beyond consolidating the rule of law at national level, this approach can also reinforce European democracy and make the country more attractive to foreign investors.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This July 14 speech is also a farewell, as my mandate ends at the close of this summer. Needless to say – and to my great regret – my wife Zoé and I have grown deeply attached to your wonderful country and to the friends we have had the opportunity to meet here.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who work every day for our bilateral relations. I mean the various political authorities and elected representatives, as well as our partners in ministries and administrations in Sofia and the regions – and in particular my colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who are always available and attentive to our Embassy. But I also mean the private sector and civil society, thanks to whose dynamism and creativity so many remarkable projects with our Embassy have been realized.

In this respect, allow me to highlight the invaluable role of the French Institute in Bulgaria and its Bulgarian partners. Over these three years I have seen that the Institute, under Pierre’s leadership and now under the equally inspired and enthusiastic leadership of Luc, is not only the showcase of our centuries-old French-Bulgarian friendship, but also its soul. Bravo to the entire team of the French Institute.

Of course, I must also mention the excellent operational cooperation carried out by all the other departments of the Embassy – the internal security services, the judicial liaison magistrate, the defense attaché, the counselor for civilian nuclear energy – and their Bulgarian counterparts.

Beyond bilateral relations, among our partners special attention must also be given to all the actors of Francophonie for their dedication and dynamism. Let me mention our two French schools in Sofia and Varna, whose pedagogical achievements this year were reflected once again in outstanding exam results, the partner kindergarten "Les Petits Princes," Bulgarian public schools where French language and teaching are honored, the teachers of the French Institute, Francophone university programs, the Alliance Française network, and the many Francophone associations, not forgetting the support from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Of course, I must also salute my French compatriots residing here, who contribute to the life and prosperity of this country, as well as all the Embassy and Consulate staff, who tirelessly work to provide quality public service to our community, in coordination with our elected representatives of French citizens abroad and our Honorary Consul in Varna.

Lastly, I would like to emphasize the essential role of the business communities. The combination of French and Bulgarian talent and expertise has led to the successful establishment of many excellent partnerships in all fields. Alongside the tireless work of the Embassy’s economic service, the local branch of France’s foreign trade advisors and the members of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry continuously promote economic ties between our two countries, as shown by the Chamber’s recent initiative in Paris to highlight Bulgaria’s attractiveness. I congratulate them and want to say that I deeply value their support and friendship.

I will conclude by once again expressing my deep gratitude to all my colleagues at the Embassy and the French Residence who have supported me over the past three years without ever losing their strong sense of public duty. With emotion, I recall Mariana, whose personality and kindness we miss. Finally, thank you to all who worked tirelessly to organize this wonderful evening. My gratitude also goes to the entire Boyana Residence team for their hospitality and support. I also sincerely thank our corporate sponsors, who again this year made the successful celebration of our national holiday possible.

Best of luck to all my Embassy colleagues who, like me, are completing their mandate in Sofia this summer. I salute them all through you, Stéphanie, who has been my faultless and patient partner. My thanks also go to you, Madam Dean, dear Zakia, and to all my fellow diplomats, for your welcome and advice.

I would like to assure you all that my wife Zoé and I will be delighted to see you again as friends in Paris.

And finally, bravo to Diana for translating this inevitably long speech.

Vive la France! Vive la Bulgarie! Long live the friendship between France and Bulgaria!

After the inspiring and moving speech by the Ambassador, the guests enjoyed the elegant event. Everything at the reception was "French-style" splendid – the décor, the stylish music, the famous delicacies, the compliments from French cosmetics companies for the ladies, the discreetly businesslike or simply friendly conversations. The only nuance was a touch of sadness, caused by the upcoming departure of one of the most successful French ambassadors in Bulgaria – H. E. Mr. Joël Meyer – and his charming wife, Mrs. Zoé Meyer.

Diplomatic Spectrum thanks His Excellency for the excellent cooperation during his mandate in Bulgaria and wishes him and his wife health, prosperity, and further professional and personal success!

Photos courtesy of the Embassy of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria.
Above: H.E. Mr. Joël Meyer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria, and his wife Mrs. Zoé Meyer