Wednesday, 25 November 2020, Paris/Berlin/London, European Union: The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Council of Ministers at the initiative of Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced the appointment to the rank and dignity of ‘Ambassadrice de France‘ of the incumbent French top envoys in Germany, Anne-Marie Descôtes as well as to Catherine Colonna in the United Kingdom.
The rank of ‘Ambassadeur/Ambassadrice de France‘ is attributed intuitu personæ to career diplomats belonging to the corp of minister plenipotentiaries, normally yet not exclusively, for those having reached the ‘hors classe‘ status. The latter is the case for Ambassador Colonna currently serving in the UK, whereas Ambassador Descôtes in Germany hitherto was classed as Minister Plenipotentiary of the 1st class.
Ambassadeurs de France can be appointed as diplomatic advisers for the government upon issuance of a decree decided in a Council of Ministers at the initiative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, or to achieve special missions accorded to them by the Foreign Ministry at large.
Anne-Marie Descôtes (b. 5 December 1959) represents France in Germany since June 2017, whereas her colleague Catherine Colonna (b. 16 April 1956) serves in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 2 September 2019. Alongside Ambassador Sylvie Bermann, they are the only three female holders of the rank Ambassadrice de France.
For further information
French Presidency’s decree in Council of Ministers: https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2020/11/25/compte-rendu-du-conseil-des-ministres-du-mercredi-25-novembre-2020
French Embassy in Germany: https://de.ambafrance.org/Biographie-de-Mme-Anne-Marie-Descotes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne-Marie_Descôtes
French Embassy in the UK: https://uk.ambafrance.org/Biographie
Ambassadeur de France: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambassadeur_de_France
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Picture by Ambassade de France en Allemagne – Ambassadeur Anne-Marie Descôtes and Henri Estramant, Diplomat Magazine’s Diplomatic Adviser.
