Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-08 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Dragasakis, French ambassador discuss political developments in France after elections --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Dragasakis, French ambassador discuss political developments in France after elections Political developments in France and Europe after the victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential elections on Sunday were the main focus of the meeting between Government Vice-President Yannis Dragasakis and the French Ambassador to Greece, Christophe Chantepy, on Monday. During the meeting, which was requested by Chantepy, Dragasakis cited Macron's view that Europe must make itself more attractive to its citizens, noting this creates expectations for a new agenda of priorities. "A prerequisite for this is a commitment to policies of convergence and strengthening of social Europe, not to divergence or widening of inequalities," Dragasakis' office said in a statement. Concerning Macron's previous reference on Greek debt restructuring, Dragasakis said this is important because it shows the new French leader recognizes the problem adding that resolving it will be positive both for Greece and Europe. Dragasakis and Chantepy also discussed the process to modernize and improve the productivity of Greek public administration, an issue on which France is providing technical assistance.