French Prime Minister visits Northern Norway
French interest towards the High North is increasing. In two weeks time, the French Prime Minister François Fillon will visit Hammerfest, Finnmark.
In the delegation is also Pierre Lellouche, France’s Secretary of State for European Affairs. The visit to Hammerfest is part of an official French state visit to Norway.
State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erik Lahnstein says to newspaper Nordlys that French interest towards the High North is increasing and that the country wants more knowledge on Arctic issues.
The French Prime Minister will visit Statoil’s LNG plant at Melkøya outside Hammerfest. France has been involved in the plant with investments and delivery of technological solutions. According to Lahnstein, the French are not only interested in oil and gas:
- The French have an agenda that stretches far beyond oil and gas. They want to contribute to the development of the High North with research and knowledge, Lahnstein says and mentions issues like security, climate and the environment as important for the French.
Deputy Mayor of Hammerfest Kristine Jørstad Bock is enthusiastic over the visit and says the French Prime Minister’s visit shows how important the LNG plant at Melkøya is, not only for Northern Norway, but for the rest of Europe.
