President of France to pay official visit to Norway

Press release | Date: 19/06/2025 | Office of the Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron will be coming to Oslo on 23 -24 June. It is 41 years since a French head of state last paid an official visit to Norway.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will receive President Macron at Akershus Castle for a working lunch and a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office. This will be followed by a guided tour of the National Museum. Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja will be hosting a gala dinner for the President and First Lady at the Royal Palace. Mr Macron and Mr Støre will also participate in a business event followed by a press conference that will be broadcast live on regjeringen.no. The First Lady will have a separate programme and will be accompanied by Queen Sonja.

‘I look forward to the visit, which is taking place the day before the NATO summit in The Hague. In times of uncertainty, it is especially important to be able to discuss common interests and priorities with our partners. Norway and France are close allies and partners in Europe. We stand together in supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom and independence. Among other things, France and the UK are leading the effort to coordinate the support to Ukraine from European countries, including Norway,’ said Prime Minister Støre.

Mr Støre and Mr Macron are meeting to reaffirm the excellent relations between Norway and France, and to discuss topics such as defence and security, and the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.

‘Cooperation between Norway and France continues to deepen and expand. Over the past year we have strengthened our cooperation on green industrial development and the green transition, as well as on defence and security. At the international level, France and Norway agree on the importance of maintaining multilateral cooperation and promoting respect for international law,’ said Mr Støre.

Cooperation between France and Norway on the green industrial transformation, the clean energy transition and cultural exchange will also be on the agenda.

Facts about Norway’s cooperation with France

France is a close ally and a major trading partner for Norway. Overall trade with France has doubled in the past decade.
Norwegian companies exported goods for a total of NOK 110 billion to France last year, including fish, mineral oils and gas. Imports from France amounted to approximately NOK 30 billion.
Some 100 Norwegian companies have established operations in France, with activities in many areas ranging from the minerals, energy, and maritime industries to the agriculture and health sectors. France is the fourth largest investment market for the Government Pension Fund Global.
Norway and France cooperate on a wide range of issues such as the green transition. The strategic industrial partnership between the two countries encompasses among other things renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, and critical minerals.

Members of the media who wish to cover the visit must apply for accreditation by 12:00 on Friday 20 June, providing their name, media outlet, email address and mobile phone number. Details of the programme will be distributed to accredited media.

The press contacts for Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre are Head of Communications Anne Kristin Hjukse, tel: +47 99 21 46 10, email: anne-kristin.hjukse@smk.dep.no, and Communications Adviser Ragnhild H. Simenstad, tel: + 47 91 71 74 59, email: rhs@smk.dep.no.