The president of France Emmanuel Macron in his standard New Year’s message to the French, he emphasized that in 2023, major structural changes took place in France which were necessary although sometimes unpleasant, such as the pension system. The French president pointed out, however, that unemployment in France continues to decrease and that the welfare state is maintained, while he also referred to the measures adopted to deal with climate change.

He also noted that within 10 years France’s defense spending had doubled, while regarding immigration he said that the law passed protects the French Republic and in combination with the agreement reached at the European level, allow a better treatment of the problem. “2024 should be a year in which we should promote structural changes in the fields of education and the economy, especially in terms of industrial policy and technological development,” President Macron also noted.

As far as European issues are concerned, the French president was in favor of strengthening European integration and the continuation of European aid to Ukraine. He said that in the European elections of 2024 the dilemma will be the continuation or blocking of the united Europe. The French president also referred to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the landing of the Allies in Normandy and the completion of the works for the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Finally, he invited the French to be present at the events that will take place in view of the Olympic Games in Paris.