Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday he would allow North Macedonia and Albania to begin talks on joining the European Union if the bloc's executive gave them a positive review next month.

Russians' trust in Vladimir Putin has declined: from 59% in 2017 to 35% today.

Turkey on Feb. 9 welcomed the peaceful voting in Azerbaijan.

"We wish that the parliamentary elections held today will be auspicious for brotherly Azerbaijan," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It also congratulated President Ilham Aliyev and the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) under his leadership, for their election success.

Due to the national strike, the Eiffel Tower is closed today. Access to the esplanade remains open and free of charge

French unions have resumed their fight against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plan after the law is to be discussed in the National Assembly. But participation in strikes and protests is diminishing.

The European Commission will propose changes to the system for letting new countries into the European Union to give existing members more say, in a bid to mollify France which has vetoed expansion of the bloc to six countries in the Balkans.
In October, President Emmanuel Macron halted the process of admitting Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and North Macedonia.

The European Commission will propose changes to the system for letting new countries into the EU to give existing members more say, in a bid to mollify France which has vetoed expansion of the bloc to six countries in the Balkans.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a letter of congratulations to Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the top judge elected by Parliament earlier this month as Greece's new president.

In his letter to the former Council of State president, Putin stressed the "traditional" friendship between the two nations and heralded a deepening of dialogue and cooperation.

Ushering in a new era in bilateral ties, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new strategic partnership between the two countries on Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed France's planned strategic partnership with Greece in the crucial areas of defence, energy, and business and the two countries' "common vision" after talks with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron accused his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday of breaking promises made at an international conference on Libya after Turkish warships and Syrian fighters arrived in Libya.