French President Emmanuel Macron will conduct a two-day state visit to Spain on September 29 and 30, according to announcements made Monday by both the Spanish government and the Elysée Palace. The visit marks the first state visit by a French president to Spain since 2009.
The French presidency stated that this visit “will illustrate the depth of the ties uniting our two countries as well as the density of their cooperation.”
Royal Reception and High-Level Talks
During the visit, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will host a gala dinner in Macron’s honor. The French president will also be received by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on September 30.
According to the Elysée Palace, both nations “share a common commitment to the protection of democracy and youth, particularly in the face of challenges raised by social media and artificial intelligence.”
The French presidency added that Sanchez and Macron will address “major European and international issues, notably the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East” during their meeting.
Context and Previous Engagements
Macron’s last visit to Spain dates back to January 2023, when he signed a friendship treaty with Sanchez. However, that treaty has yet to be ratified by the Spanish side due to opposition from Spain’s right-wing parties to certain provisions.
The French president also traveled to Seville last summer to participate in the United Nations Conference on Financing for Development.
Key Agenda Items
- Bilateral cooperation between France and Spain
- European and international challenges
- Situation in Ukraine
- Middle East crisis
- Democracy protection in the digital age
- Challenges posed by social media and artificial intelligence
