France hopes to send ‘strategic signal’ about Europe’s renewed military focus at Bastille Day celebrations – Europe live

Many leaders from the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ stayed overnight in Paris to attend the parade, which will be Emmanuel Macron’s last as president

Over 300 vehicles and 6,500 soldiers will march down the iconic Champs-Élysées in central Paris this morning as part of today’s Bastille Day celebration in Paris, which is set to “send a strategic signal” about France and Europe’s military awakening.

Marking the importance of international cooperation, the parade will also include 500 troops from the countries involved in the Coalition of the Willing, including Germany, and 25 soldiers from Ukraine.

It will be Emmanuel Macron’s tenth – and final – parade ahead of next year’s presidential election. He has a strong guest list this year, though, with many leaders staying overnight after yesterday’s talks on Ukraine, including Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself.

The parade begins 10am local time (9am BST) and we will show it here, bringing you all the key updates.

Elsewhere, we are expecting some news from Brussels with Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine all making progress in their accession talks with the European Union.

Marta Kos, the EU’s enlargement commissioner, called it a “Super Tuesday.”

“In the for more than two decades, we have not had four accession conferences in one day, and this will happen today,” she said.

Montenegro is the frontrunner to join the EU next with more than half of “clusters” closed, Kos said, but all four countries are making good progress in delivering the reforms requested of them.

Lots for us to cover.

I will bring you all the latest here.

It’s Tuesday, 14 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.

Macron is here, welcomed by the French chief of defence, among others.

He’s off to inspect the parade driving around the Arc de Triomphe in his role as the commander in chief.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is expected imminently, travelling in an armoured car with bright French flag-coloured lights adorning its grille.

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy arrives next, to warm applause from the public and the other leaders.

Britain’s outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer is the latest leader to arrive just now, in a black Range Rover.

He gets a warm welcome from Brigitte Macron and PM Sébastien Lecornu.

You can watch our live stream of the Bastille Day parade in Paris here, with final preparations now under way before the event starts soon.

Most leaders are already in their premium seats, including French PM Sébastien Lecornu, with France’s Emmanuel Macron expected shortly before the start at 10am (9am UK).

Over 300 vehicles and 6,500 soldiers will march down the iconic Champs-Élysées in central Paris this morning as part of today’s Bastille Day celebration in Paris, which is set to “send a strategic signal” about France and Europe’s military awakening.

Marking the importance of international cooperation, the parade will also include 500 troops from the countries involved in the Coalition of the Willing, including Germany, and 25 soldiers from Ukraine.

It will be Emmanuel Macron’s tenth – and final – parade ahead of next year’s presidential election. He has a strong guest list this year, though, with many leaders staying overnight after yesterday’s talks on Ukraine, including Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself.

The parade begins 10am local time (9am BST) and we will show it here, bringing you all the key updates.

Elsewhere, we are expecting some news from Brussels with Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine all making progress in their accession talks with the European Union.

Marta Kos, the EU’s enlargement commissioner, called it a “Super Tuesday.”

“In the for more than two decades, we have not had four accession conferences in one day, and this will happen today,” she said.

Montenegro is the frontrunner to join the EU next with more than half of “clusters” closed, Kos said, but all four countries are making good progress in delivering the reforms requested of them.

Lots for us to cover.

I will bring you all the latest here.

It’s Tuesday, 14 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.