photo: whitehouse.gov
FRANCE - A symbolic 66-point agreement on close cooperation over the next few years was signed by US President Joe Biden Jr. and French President Emmanuel Macron. They called the agreement the French-American road map.
Following the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, French President Emmanuel Macron received the President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden Jr., in Paris for a state visit and emphasized the deep historical ties and shared values between France and the United States. The Presidents reflected on their historic relationship and recalled the price paid by past generations in both countries for peace and freedom, and reaffirmed their commitment to a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.
Ukraine
The Presidents reaffirm their strong condemnation of Russia's war against Ukraine and reject Russia's attempt to annex sovereign Ukrainian territory, which is a clear violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Russia's irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and disregard for arms control regimes are unacceptable. In this context, France and the United States reaffirm their continued support for the defence of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including through the continued provision of political, security, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine. The United States and France reaffirm their support for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace that respects international law, and will continue to work with partners and allies to coordinate assistance efforts to enable Ukraine to fully exercise its right to self-defense as set forth in Article 51 of the UN Charter.
The Presidents discussed ways to give more support to Ukraine; the Euro-Atlantic security as a whole is at stake in this war. France and the United States co-chair the Artillery Coalition in the Contact Group for the Defence of Ukraine and intend to take new steps to provide the necessary support to Ukraine in the current phase and in the longer term. France and the United States remain committed to dispel any false notion that time is on Russia's side; the Presidents pledge to support efforts within the European Union and the G7 to transfer the extraordinary gains from immobilized Russian state assets to Ukraine, in accordance with international law and our respective legal systems and decision-making processes.
The Presidents also expressed strong concern about the transfers of arms, particularly from Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and dual-use materials and components for military production from companies in the People's Republic of China and other countries, which Russia is using to rebuild its military and defence industrial base in order to wage war against Ukraine. The United States and France support measures to restrict access to the U.S. and French financial systems for those involved in such transfers. France and the United States share a common commitment to support the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to highlight and document violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Russian armed forces.
The United States and France remain committed to mitigating the tragic humanitarian and human rights consequences, as well as the war's impact on global food security, energy, nuclear safety and environmental protection.
NATO
France and the United States reaffirm their intention to defend each other and every inch of allied territory at all times, to protect their citizens and to safeguard freedom and democracy in accordance with their NATO alliance commitments. France and the United States are strengthening their collective defence based on a 360-degree approach against all threats and from all directions. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between NATO and the EU and of promoting a stronger and more capable European defence, which underpins the European pillar of transatlantic security and contributes positively to collective security. The United States supports the growing investment by European allies and partners in military capabilities that enable our common defence, consistent with complementarity with NATO.
Moldova, Western Balkans and Southern Caucasus
France and the United States intend to continue to work with Moldova and other partners to strengthen Moldova's resilience to Russia's destabilising attempts, to diversify its energy supplies, and to strengthen its democratic institutions and human rights protections to support its European integration.
France and the United States welcomed the continued close cooperation in the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union with a view to enhancing prosperity and strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law. They welcome the opportunity to strengthen joint engagement in the Western Balkans, including through European Union (EU) and NATO cooperation, the EU-facilitated dialogue on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and support for key reforms for EU integration. As witnesses to the Dayton-Paris Accords, France and the United States reaffirm their support for the Office of the High Representative and will continue to vigorously protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and multi-ethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They call on BiH leaders to reject the path of division and secession and instead work together on the reforms necessary for EU accession. They urge the new government in North Macedonia to remain focused on the EU path and to respect its international commitments.
The United States and France reaffirm their commitment to support the Georgian people in their Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Presidents urge the ruling Georgian Dream party to respect the wishes of the public and return to the Euro-Atlantic path. The United States and France support the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the South Caucasus based on respect for international law as well as the principles of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. They support further regional integration in the South Caucasus for the benefit of all the people of the region.
Middle East
In the Middle East, France and the United States are committed to continuing their joint efforts to de-escalate and avoid regional conflict. France and the United States call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and reiterate that all hostages should be released immediately and without preconditions. The Presidents reiterate their grave concern about the serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for the provision of vital humanitarian assistance on a large scale to the civilian population and for unrestricted and sustained humanitarian access through all routes into and within Gaza. They also reiterate the need for Israel to do more to effectively protect Palestinian civilians and aid workers. They reaffirm their commitment to a two-state solution, which is the only way to ensure a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
In particular, they stress that it is extremely important to preserve Lebanon's stability and de-escalation on the Blue Line, and they will work together to achieve this goal. Both countries call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and responsibility in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution1701. In this context, France and the United States underline the urgent need to end the 18-month presidential vacuum in Lebanon and to proceed without delay to elect a President, form a government and implement the reforms necessary to stabilise the Lebanese economy and lay the foundations for reconstruction and sustainable and inclusive growth.
They reaffirmed their determination to increase pressure on Iran to curb its destabilising regional activities, nuclear escalation and missile proliferation, to halt its support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, to ensure its full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to pave the way for a future negotiated settlement that ensures that its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. They are prepared to take further sanctions and other measures against Iran's destabilising activities and to prevent Iranian missile transfers to Russia. They also reiterate their deep concern about human rights violations and abuses in Iran, particularly against women, girls and minorities. We call on the Iranian leadership to end all arbitrary detentions.
Africa
France and the United States are committed to working with African countries on shared global priorities, including inclusive global economic growth, combating the climate crisis, digital transformation, good governance and security, food security and global health. They welcomed the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 and will work with African countries to ensure their full representation in international institutions. They support African partners and regional organisations in their efforts to bring peace, stability and good governance to the region, while investing in inclusive and sustainable development, human capital and infrastructure as key drivers of economic growth.
The United States and France are also deeply concerned about the deteriorating governance, security and humanitarian situation in Sudan, the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and other crisis areas. They strongly condemn the ongoing human rights violations committed by multiple parties, including Russian proxies and national armed forces, the shrinking of democratic space and the increase in disinformation. France and the United States call on all belligerents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to immediately cease hostilities, for Rwanda to withdraw and stop supporting the M23 group, for the DRC to cease all cooperation with the FDLR and other armed groups, and for all actors to respect international humanitarian law.
The Presidents continue to support regional diplomatic efforts and commend in particular the mediation led by the President of Angola and call on all parties to de-escalate, protect civilians and engage constructively in dialogue to create the conditions for a negotiated solution leading to a lasting peace. The Chairs commit to consult on their respective approaches in West Africa, including the Sahel. The United States and France are committed to supporting mediation efforts to find a political solution to the Sudanese crisis, as well as to supporting increased, sustained, and substantial humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese population.
Indo-Pacific
The United States and France are strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to promote prosperity, security, and universal values based on a rules-based international order, transparent governance, fair economic practices, and respect for international law, including freedom of navigation. Consistent with their shared commitment to the security and stability of the region and building on their comparative advantages, the United States and France also seek to expand concrete cooperation in areas such as maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, climate, biodiversity, and sustainable ocean management. The Presidents recall and fully support the G7 statement on the PRC and will coordinate closely to address the various challenges related to PRC actions and policies.
On the DPRK, they continue to strongly condemn the provision of ballistic missiles and munitions by the DPRK to Russia for use in Ukraine and will coordinate their efforts in the UN Security Council on all issues related to the DPRK. They reaffirmed their support for the people of Myanmar in their quest for peace, freedom and democracy. The United States and France are deepening their regional diplomatic, development, and economic engagement, including with regional institutions such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Indian Ocean Association, to promote prosperity and security and the transition to sustainable renewable energy in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, South Asia, and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Western Hemisphere
The United States and France support the rapid deployment of a multinational security assistance mission to Haiti, as approved by the UN Security Council, and thank Kenya for its leadership of this critical mission. The Presidents, together with other international partners, stand ready to support the electoral process in Haiti. France and the United States support the desire of the Venezuelan people to hold presidential elections on 28 July in which democracy would be peacefully restored. They urge President Maduro to respect the commitments made in Barbados in October 2023 and to reconsider his decision to withdraw the EU invitation to participate in the election observation mission and to allow unhindered access to the EU, UN and Carter Center election observation missions. They also call on President Maduro to continue to allow the candidacy of the united opposition candidate Edmundo González, to end the repression of the political opposition and to immediately release political prisoners.
Transnational issues
Security Council reform
France and the United States are committed to expanding the Security Council to include more representation from under-represented regions, including African states. France and the United States are convinced that expanding the Security Council to include both permanent and non-permanent members is possible.
Combating foreign interference and manipulation of information
Both countries are committed to upholding the right to freedom of opinion and expression, both offline and online, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, while keeping information intact and consistent with democratic human rights values. France and the United States co-chair the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Centre for Information Integrity, which aims to promote co-operation and knowledge sharing on practical approaches to promoting information integrity. Both countries welcome the OECD's publication in March 2024 of the report "Facts, Not Fakes" and its contribution to benchmarking public policies on information integrity and increasing transparency and accountability of very large online platforms. The two leaders commit to intensify global exchanges, including through the Partnership for Information and Democracy, to strengthen capacity building and information sharing related to misinformation, especially during crises. Both countries support the International Fund. They are also committed to fruitful cooperation within the UN and through the Partnership for Public Interest Media, a powerful new tool to promote quality, credible and reliable information worldwide.
The United States and France intend to work together to build partner countries' resilience to foreign information manipulation along key dimensions: national strategies and policies, governance structures and institutions, human and technical capacity, civil society, independent media and academia, and multilateral engagement. France and the United States intend to work together to operationalize appropriate measures through new and existing multilateral mechanisms, such as the G7 Rapid Reaction Mechanism, and in coordination with other like-minded partners and multilateral organizations.
The United States and France condemn the scourge of transnational repression (TNR). The United States has welcomed France's participation in the US-led G7 Rapid Response Mechanism Working Group on TNR, which was launched in July 2023, and the two countries will continue to deepen cooperation to prevent and combat TNR in the future, including in the digital space.
Digital governance and new technologies
France and the United States are committed to promoting an open, interoperable, reliable and secure internet. This includes a secure, stable, accessible and peaceful cyberspace and multi-stakeholder internet governance. reshaping the international digital agenda should lead to close bilateral and multilateral cooperation, in particular at the UN, with ongoing negotiations on a global digital compact to be adopted during the Summit for the Future.
France, together with the EU and the United States, is pushing for national frameworks for the governance and regulation of AI. They stress the importance of international discussions on AI governance and interoperability, given the global economic potential and social impact of this technological revolution. France and the United States recognise the importance of promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI in line with a risk-based, human-centred and innovation-friendly approach. In particular, they reiterate their commitment to work together within the G7 to promote the International Code of Conduct for organisations developing advanced AI systems. This will include a reporting framework to promote accountability in the development of advanced AI systems and to understand the extent to which the Code of Conduct supports improvements in safety and risk management practices.
It commends the collaboration through the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence, which has 29 members from all geographic regions. They support the ambition to strengthen the mandate of the Partnership to become an inclusive forum both for engaging in joint research projects in the public interest and for fostering meaningful discussions between partners on standards and interoperability of their respective AI regulations. In particular, they stress the need for close cooperation on AI technical standards to ensure the safe and trustworthy development of AI systems. The United States intends to participate in and contribute to the 2025 AI Action Summit to be held in France through a steering committee to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI in the service of the common good and the economic and social prosperity of all regions of the world. France and the United States support the participation of civil society, academia, the technical community and businesses in multi-stakeholder initiatives that promote a safe and responsible online space, in particular the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online, the Child Online Protection Lab, the Paris Call for Trust and Safety in Cyberspace, and the Global Partnership for Action against Gender-Based Harassment and Abuse Online, to which France is also contributing with the creation of the Women's Rights Online Lab on online and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
France and the United States continue to strengthen their cooperation in support of critical and emerging technologies and continue to recognize that some of these technologies have implications for global peace and security. To this end, France and the United States share the goal of ensuring that our technology ecosystems cannot be exploited to undermine international peace and security. France and the United States continue to ensure that our instruments, including those related to trade, investment and exports, are appropriate to address these security implications, while avoiding undue restrictions on international trade and investment.
France and the United States recognise the importance of promoting transatlantic academic cooperation in research on critical and emerging technologies, including quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. France and the United States believe that working with like-minded countries on emerging technologies strengthens the global vision of how these technologies can be used for good.
Cyber security
Both Presidents commit to continue coordinating efforts to combat the proliferation and misuse of commercial cyber intrusion capabilities, including commercial spyware, strengthen cyber capacity building efforts, and increase cooperation against malicious cyber activities, including those that are state-sponsored. They also reaffirmed their support for the joint statement on efforts to combat the spread and abuse of commercial spyware and the Pall Mall process. The two Chairs stressed the importance of the International Initiative to Combat Ransomware and welcomed the growing participation of its members, which is evidence of the ongoing concerted efforts to neutralise ransomware globally.
Pacific submarine cables
The United States and France emphasize the strategic location of French overseas territories for the undersea cable network, its development as a digital hub in the South Pacific, and will continue to work with the private sector, including French companies, and like-minded partners to build trusted and more resilient networks to expand digital connectivity and economic development in the Pacific region and beyond.
Pacific submarine cables
The United States and France emphasize the strategic location of French overseas territories for the undersea cable network, its development as a digital hub in the South Pacific, and will continue to work with the private sector, including French companies, and like-minded partners to build trusted and more resilient networks to expand digital connectivity and economic development in the Pacific region and beyond.
Climate, plastic pollution, biodiversity and ocean protection
France and the United States are calling for increased efforts to make deep, timely and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions during this critical decade to maintain our goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5C. Together, they commit to submit new and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with absolute reduction targets covering all sectors and categories of the economy and all GHGs, including methane, by February 2025, as well as to revise their long-term low-GHG development strategies towards an equitable transition to net zero emissions, as called for in the Paris Agreement and the results of the first Global Stocktaking Task (GST). France and the United States reiterate the need to achieve 75% reductions in global fossil fuel methane emissions, including by reducing methane emissions intensity from oil and gas operations by 2030, using instruments such as the International Methane Observatory, the Global Methane Commitment and national instruments. They committed to continue robust bilateral coordination of climate negotiations through regular meetings.
Both France and the United States recognize the key role of nuclear energy as a clean/zero energy source for achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and reaffirm their support for the declaration to triple nuclear power capacity worldwide by 2050, which they and more than 20 other countries from four continents presented at COP28, and welcome additional endorsers ahead of COP29.
They express their intent to achieve meaningful outcomes at COP29 and COP30, including in the areas of climate finance and implementation of the GST "1.5 degree pathway", as well as to build on the commitments made at COP28 to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030, through accompanying efforts such as increasing overall energy storage and grid expansion, turning this added renewable capacity into baseload capacity.
France and the United States emphasize the urgent need to effectively, concretely and rapidly implement the CMA.5 GST decision, including the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, and to accelerate action in this critical decade to achieve net zero consumption by 2050. They recalled the G7 commitment to phase out the current unconstrained coal-fired generation in our energy systems during the first half of 2030 and to work hard to reduce fossil fuel demand and use.
France and the United States welcomed the OECD's confirmation that developed countries have fully met their 2022 target to collectively mobilise $100 billion per year for climate action in developing countries for the first time, and expressed the need for a new ambitious collective quantified target set from the lower bound of $100 billion per year to help keep 1.5°C within reach and build a zero net greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient future.
They will continue to support developing and emerging economies through measures such as the implementation of partnerships, such as the Fair Energy Transition Partnerships, and climate finance, in particular the increased use of blended finance and the mobilisation of private finance. This will include a joint initiative to encourage multilateral development banks to explore their potential role in nuclear energy financing and technical assistance, according to each bank's capacity and comparative advantages. They will continue efforts to ensure that financial flows are consistent with a low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development pathway. Following France's launch at COP28 of a project to accelerate the transition to coal-fired power, both Presidents support the OECD's ongoing work to recommend risk-based policies to financial institutions to phase out private sector investment in new coal-fired capacity and accelerate the transition of existing capacity to renewable energy.
The Chairs have committed to ambitious action across the plastics life cycle to end plastic pollution and call on the global community to do the same, aiming to reduce global production and consumption of virgin plastic polymers. Urge the global community to complete an ambitious and effective international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by the end of 2024, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the entire life cycle of plastics.
France and the United States stressed the need to take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to conserve, protect and restore critical ecosystems, including forests and other woodlands, wetlands such as peatlands and mangroves, and oceans, which are major natural carbon sinks and biodiversity sinks. In particular, they committed to work together to conserve 30 % of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, both bilaterally and multilaterally, in accordance with the global framework for biodiversity adopted by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties, and to achieve its goals and targets.
France and the United States are calling on the world to reach the highest level of ambition on ocean protection at the next Our Ocean Conference in April 2025 and the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025. In order to tackle the absolute urgency facing the ocean, the Our Ocean and UN Ocean Conferences are crucial opportunities to mobilise ambitious action and concrete commitments for the ocean.
France and the United States support the entry into force of an agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction ahead of the next UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025.
France and the United States continue to play an active role in ensuring the effective protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects that may result from deep seabed mining and reaffirm their commitment to a precautionary approach to the potential extraction of marine minerals.
The Presidents commend the efforts of both countries to promote a healthy, sustainable and resilient Atlantic Ocean, including the leadership of the United States in the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation and the leadership of France in the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. France and the United States affirm that they will address water security challenges in the fight against climate change. They will work together in this area, including at the next One Water Summit hosted by France and Kazakhstan.
France and the United States reaffirm their commitment to work on decarbonisation and climate resilience of buildings in the follow-up to the implementation of the Chaillot Declaration and the development of breakthrough priority actions on buildings.
France and the United States also reaffirm their support for the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), which will contribute significantly to promoting sustainable growth trajectories and access to clean energy in these regions.
Global development, health, food security and international financial architecture
France and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to developing an international financial architecture to meet the challenges of today's world.
The United States and France have committed to support discussions within the G20 and through the governing bodies of international financial institutions to leverage public and private resources to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, reduce emissions to keep 1.5°C within reach, build resilience to climate change, and address other global challenges, including fragile areas and pandemics. This includes their commitment to build better, bigger and more effective multilateral development banks (MDBs) and their efforts to increase the MDBs' financing capacity. It includes supporting efforts to build complementarity and coherence in the climate finance architecture, as well as facilitating private investment through changes to incentive frameworks, more efficient and agile processes, a complete review of regulatory barriers, and improvements to blended finance and guarantee instruments, including the World Bank Group's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
It also includes an improved assessment of debt sustainability in the light of climate vulnerabilities and the large-scale investment needs required by the green transition. They support the intention of all financial institutions to work as a system within the Finance in Common coalition. They support the ambitions of the Paris Pact for People and Planet (4Ps) and its efforts to promote collaboration among key global stakeholders committed to working together to secure additional financing for development, climate and nature. They draw attention to the need to support developing countries with high ambitions that face financing challenges in the face of rising debt burdens. In this regard, France welcomes the Nairobi-Washington Vision, which is a call for the international community to pool its instruments to support these countries, and looks forward to working with the US, Kenya and all other stakeholders to implement it.
By the end of this year, France and the United States commit to continue to lead a successful and effective replenishment of the resources of the main multilateral instruments to fight poverty and inequality, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International Development Association, as well as the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.
Global development, health, food security and international financial architecture
France and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to developing an international financial architecture to meet the challenges of today's world.
The United States and France have committed to support discussions within the G20 and through the governing bodies of international financial institutions to leverage public and private resources to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, reduce emissions to keep 1.5°C within reach, build resilience to climate change, and address other global challenges, including instability and pandemics. This includes their commitment to build better, bigger and more effective multilateral development banks (MDBs) and their efforts to increase the MDBs' financing capacity.
It includes supporting efforts to build complementarity and coherence in the climate finance architecture, as well as facilitating private investment through changes to incentive frameworks, more efficient and agile processes, a complete review of regulatory barriers, and improvements to blended finance and guarantee instruments, including the World Bank Group's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. It also includes improving debt sustainability assessments in light of climate vulnerabilities and the large-scale investment needs required by the green transition. They support the intention of all financial institutions to work as a system under the Finance in Common coalition. They support the ambitions of the Paris Pact for People and Planet (4Ps) and its efforts to promote collaboration among key global stakeholders committed to working together to secure additional financing for development, climate and nature.
They point to the need to support developing countries with high ambitions that face financing problems in an environment of rising debt burdens. In this respect, France welcomes the Nairobi and Washington vision, which is a call for the international community to pool its instruments to support these countries, and looks forward to working with the US, Kenya and all other stakeholders to implement it. France and the United States pledge to continue to lead the successful and effective replenishment of the resources of the main multilateral instruments to fight poverty and inequality, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International Development Association, as well as the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, until the end of this year.
International taxation
France and the United States have reaffirmed their agenda for a multilateral convention to implement Part A of Pillar 1, including discussions on the partial reallocation of rights to tax the profits of the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises, as well as greater tax certainty and simpler rules, with a view to opening the multilateral convention for signature by the end of June 2024. France and the United States also welcome the initiative of the Brazilian G20 Presidency to prioritise discussions on international tax cooperation and intend to step up their efforts towards progressive and fair taxation of individuals.
Bilateral cooperation
Defence and security
The Presidents appreciate the density and breadth of the U.S.-French defense relationship, both at the political and operational levels. Building on the Joint Statement of Intent signed by the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the French Minister of the Armed Forces on November 30, 2022, this cooperation has deepened and expanded in critical areas such as space, cyberspace, intelligence, and information warfare. The Presidents look forward to continuing the dialogue to maintain and enhance interoperability between the U.S. and French armed forces and intend to build on this momentum.
They appreciate the progress made in the US-French Strategic Dialogue on Defence Trade in terms of the effectiveness of their defence export licensing process and bilateral cooperation on market access issues and intend to maintain this momentum. This dialogue has allowed both partners to recognize the high standards of their respective export control regimes and to discuss issues that affect our defense industrial bases.
As adversaries intensify hybrid, cyber, and other forms of threats against our nations, France and the United States are committed to working together to counter these actions.
Bilateral clean energy partnership
At the third high-level meeting of the U.S.-France Bilateral Clean Energy Partnership held recently in France, the two countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to work toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, including by leveraging cutting-edge research and science to accelerate the development and responsible deployment of clean energy technologies, breakthrough innovations, and policies that revitalize the energy sector and pioneer clean industries. Recognizing opportunities to deepen our bilateral energy cooperation, they identified areas of engagement including geological hydrogen, industrial decarbonization, and electric grids and flexibility, as well as continued bilateral discussions on nuclear energy, critical minerals, and critical raw materials, including accelerating the implementation of the Mineral Security Partnership and the IEA's voluntary Critical Minerals Security Program.
Civil nuclear power
The Chairs welcome the establishment of a small group on nuclear energy in the framework of the bilateral partnership. Their intention is to ensure mutual and mutually beneficial cooperation in research and development of advanced nuclear technologies, including next generation reactors, small modular reactors, nuclear fuel technology and sustainable fuel management solutions. The United States and France will also promote the responsible deployment of nuclear reactors to achieve decarbonisation goals in accordance with the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.
The United States and France recognize the importance of diversifying civilian nuclear fuel supply chains and developing nuclear fuel services free of Russian influence, and commend the progress made by the "Sapporo Five," including Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, in exceeding their COP28 goal of mobilizing $4.2 billion in government-led investments to create a safe and secure global nuclear fuel supply chain. France and the United States are committed to working together to mobilize additional investments to expand safe, secure and reliable nuclear fuel supply chains sufficient to support the growth of carbon-free nuclear energy consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees by 2050. France and the United States are fully aligned in their efforts to reduce dependence on and cooperate with the Russian civil nuclear industry.
Civil nuclear power
The Chairs welcome the establishment of a small group on nuclear energy in the framework of the bilateral partnership. Their intention is to ensure mutual and mutually beneficial cooperation in research and development of advanced nuclear technologies, including next generation reactors, small modular reactors, nuclear fuel technology and sustainable fuel management solutions. The United States and France will also promote the responsible deployment of nuclear reactors to achieve decarbonisation goals in accordance with the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.
The United States and France recognize the importance of diversifying civilian nuclear fuel supply chains and developing nuclear fuel services free of Russian influence, and commend the progress made by the "Sapporo Five," including Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, in exceeding their COP28 goal of mobilizing $4.2 billion in government-led investments to create a safe and secure global nuclear fuel supply chain. France and the United States are committed to working together to mobilize additional investments to expand safe, secure and reliable nuclear fuel supply chains sufficient to support the growth of carbon-free nuclear energy consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees by 2050. France and the United States are fully aligned in their efforts to reduce dependence on and cooperate with the Russian civil nuclear industry.
Space cooperation
The United States and France have established a comprehensive space dialogue to develop bilateral space cooperation in civil, commercial, multilateral, and national security dimensions. In the area of civil space, the United States and France have committed to developing cooperation in human spaceflight to low Earth orbit on the International Space Station, deep space on and around the Moon under the Artemis program, and beyond. In addition to cooperation through the European Space Agency, particularly in the area of lunar gateways, the United States and France are seeking to develop bilateral cooperation in lunar exploration. The United States and France are collaborating on the Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) initiative, which aims to use space-based data to model and monitor climate change and to develop operational tools for adapting to its impacts.
As part of the SCO, the United States and France commit to creating a joint digital twin for coastal zones to monitor climate change and map flooding. U.S. and French oceanographers and hydrologists and international partners have also joined forces to develop and operate the Surface Water Ocean Topography mission, which is conducting the first global survey of the Earth's surface waters, observing the fine details of ocean surface topography and measuring how water surfaces change over time. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency and the French Space Agency have committed to continue their collaboration on an atmospheric observation system with other international partners that will provide key data for better weather, air quality and climate forecasts.
Transport
The U.S. Department of Transportation and the French ministry responsible for transportation intend to strengthen cooperation in the rail sector, share knowledge and best practices, and encourage Amtrak and French companies such as SNCF and Alstom to exchange experience in rail projects and technologies. In particular, they encourage these exchanges to facilitate the completion of the ongoing certification of Alstom's new Avelia Liberty high-speed train set for use on Amtrak's Acela service on the Northeast Corridor.
Scientific cooperation
France and the United States are committed to developing their mutually beneficial scientific relationship at the highest level. The French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the U.S. Department of State will organize the Joint Committee on Science and Technology 2025 to intensify bilateral cooperation on topics of mutual interest, such as the French-American Roundtables among scientists will be organized to prepare this Joint Committee and identify priorities for cooperation.
Ssemi-cooperation in the field of food safety
France and the United States have committed to work together to improve global food and nutrition security, including through mutual support for the Nutrition for Growth 2025 Summit, promoting food security in key partner countries, and, as part of the flagship U.S. Feed the Future initiative, France and the United States have committed to collaborate under the World Bank's Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, the International Fund for International Development (IFAD), the CGIAR Global Partnership for Agricultural Research, and the Great Green Wall Accelerator. With France hosting the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit and the United States hosting a follow-up summit in 2026, the presidents intend to work together to coordinate efforts to strengthen global food security and nutrition for the world's most vulnerable people, including through the more than 100-country School Feeding Coalition, which France and the United States are sponsoring as part of a leadership task force.
France and the United States will continue to support the integration and effective implementation of the One Health approach to prevent the emergence, re-emergence and spread of zoonoses and to address antimicrobial resistance. France and the United States intend to work closely together to achieve their agricultural trade objectives.
Global health cooperation
The United States and France continue to discuss ways to advance shared global health priorities, particularly in multilateral venues and with a focus on shared regional priorities such as Africa. France and the United States are committed to supporting the new World Health Organization Academy in Lyon, which will significantly improve global access to training for health professionals from different sectors. The United States and France are committed to strengthening the global health architecture and enhancing global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response efforts, such as through the African Vaccine Accelerator, as well as efforts to expand equitable access to vaccines through our continued support of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, which is preparing to launch additional replenishment this month. As members of the Alliance for Climate and Health Transformation, France and the United States have reiterated their desire to work together to strengthen the resilience of health systems to climate change and mitigate the ecological footprint of health systems. France and the United States will continue to support the integration and effective implementation of the One Health approach to prevent the emergence, re-emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases and address antimicrobial resistance.
The United States and France support efforts to transform the funding structure related to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. This includes helping to mobilize $2 billion in new funding and an equal amount in catalytic funding for the Pandemic Fund at the October 2024 pledging event and implementing the MCM impact funding initiative being developed by the respective G7 DFIs. France and the United States are also working together to fulfill the G7 commitment to assist at least 100 low- and middle-income countries in implementing the core capacities required by the International Health Regulations. In March 2024, France joined the United States in launching the Foreign Ministers' Channel on Global Health Security, which brings together foreign ministries to draw diplomatic attention and action to critical global health security issues. As expressed in the recent G7 Foreign Ministers' statement, they will also work together to raise the global bar on biosafety and biosecurity.
Cultural cooperation
Recognizing their deep historical ties and shared democratic values, France and the United States are eager to expand their cultural cooperation ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence in 2026. This historic milestone will offer a unique opportunity to reaffirm, through joint celebrations and cultural exchanges, the longstanding democratic and people-to-people ties that unite France and the United States.
France and the United States are determined to ensure the success of the nomination of the historic D-Day landing sites at Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches for UNESCO World Heritage listing, submitted by France. By securing this recognition, France and the United States intend to preserve these sacred sites for future generations, honoring the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for freedom. This effort symbolizes both countries' ongoing commitment to peace, remembrance and international cooperation.
Gender equality and the fight against discrimination
Promoting gender equality and the rights and opportunities of women and girls is a priority for France and the United States. Presidents have committed to defend sexual and reproductive health and rights, empower women economically, invest in childcare, address gender-based violence, work with and uplift women's civil society organizations, and promote women's representation, leadership, and political participation. Both countries commit to support women's economic empowerment by working together to close the digital divide between men and women, including through the Women in the Digital Economy initiative, and to promote investment in childcare, including through efforts such as the World Bank's Investing in Childcare initiative.
France and the United States welcome the OECD's contribution to advancing gender equality and its commitment to provide data-driven policy recommendations to close critical gender gaps, particularly in the areas of environmental, energy and digital transitions. France and the United States support the recommendations of the Development Assistance Committee on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance and reaffirm their commitment to prevent and combat sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. As members of the
The Global Partnership to Combat Gender-Based Harassment and Abuse Online, France and the United States commit to address all forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and to combat gender-based misinformation and its growing threat to women leaders and democracies around the world. France is also contributing with the creation of the Online Women's Rights Lab, focusing on online and technology-supported gender-based violence. France and the United States share a positive vision of technology to help bridge the digital gender gap and empower women and girls in the online space. The two countries intend to collaborate on AI and gender issues, specifically with a view to the AI Summit to be hosted by Paris in 2025.
France and the United States reaffirm their support for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Women should have access to reproductive health care, including contraception and safe abortion. Both countries advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights in multilateral and bilateral relations, pushing for ambitious language in international negotiating bodies and joining existing coalitions such as the Generation Equality Forum's action coalition on bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Both countries also provide bilateral and multilateral assistance to partner countries, international organizations and local civil society actors to promote access to family planning and other important and quality sexual and reproductive health services.
France and the United States call on the international community to step up efforts to promote and defend women's rights, including by strengthening UN Women and other relevant international bodies.
The fight against anti-Semitism
France and the United States are committed to fighting all forms of discrimination and all forms of hatred. In the context of the sharp rise in anti-Semitism around the world, both governments commit to an annual dialogue on combating anti-Semitism and to further strengthen their role in broader coalitions to combat all forms of discrimination and anti-Semitism, to include coordinating strategies to mitigate anti-Semitism online and to promote education and better understanding among all different sectors of our societies. France and the United States continue to work together to preserve the history and memory of the Holocaust, including accurate education and commemoration and restitution or compensation for artwork confiscated by the Nazis and their collaborators.
Sport
As host countries of the next Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 and 2028 respectively, France and the United States have committed to foster cooperation between institutions and groups involved in the organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to make these events more sustainable, accountable and inclusive. At the Games in Paris and Los Angeles, they will work together to demonstrate that these major universal sporting events provide a unique opportunity to pursue the shared Sustainable Development Goals and to support efforts and investments in the health and education of future generations. Both recall the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on the Olympic Truce.
whitehouse.gov/gnews.cz-jav
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/08/french-american-roadmap
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