Violaine Champetier de Ribes received the insignia of Chevalier of the National Order of Merit at an official ceremony held on Friday, 16 January 2026, at the Senate restaurant in Paris.

The insignia were presented by Olivier Cadic, Senator representing French citizens abroad, in the presence of His Excellency Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia to France, Charles Maridor, Managing Director of CCI France International, representatives of French and Estonian institutions, business leaders, and representatives of the France–Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry who travelled from Tallinn for the ceremony: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Chocolala, CoinsPaid, 5.0 Robotics, Mast Production and Quatre deux deux, as well as stakeholders involved in developing economic relations between France and Estonia.

Structuring a France–Estonia economic corridor

Having lived in Estonia for 5 years, Violaine Champetier de Ribes co‑founded the France–Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide a structured framework for companies wishing to grow between the two countries. The Chamber supports French and Estonian businesses, animates the Franco‑Estonian business community in Tallinn, organises economic missions, and facilitates high value‑added targeted connections.

Its objective is twofold: to give French companies privileged access to Estonia’s startup and technology ecosystem, and to offer Estonian stakeholders industrial, commercial and financial partners in France and across Europe.

New Nordics, innovation and economic sovereignty

This distinction comes at a time of strategic repositioning for the European Union, marked by the war in Ukraine and the strengthening of North‑Eastern Europe’s economic and security role. Estonia is emerging as a digital hub within the New Nordics, alongside Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Latvia and Lithuania, supported by major projects such as Rail Baltica, the future rail corridor between Warsaw and Tallinn. In this context, Estonia signed in May 2025 the largest infrastructure contract in its history, for an amount that could reach nearly one billion euros. Two major French companies are involved: Bouygues Travaux Publics and NGE Contracting, each participating in one of the two international consortia.

Quotes

“You work to enhance France’s influence, not out of nostalgia, but through a clear‑eyed commitment to its values: critical thinking, a culture of debate, a taste for universality and a spirit of innovation.” “Thank you, dear Violaine, for choosing the Senate and myself to present your decoration. This moment is a reminder of how the legacy of Auguste Champetier de Ribes, cousin of your grandfather, remains for us a model of commitment to honour and to the Republic. History remembers his refusal, in 1940, to grant full powers to Marshal Pétain.”

Olivier Cadic, Senator representing French citizens abroad

“Economic relations between Estonia and France have strengthened year after year. Today more than ever, our cooperation is close, and the dramatic events on the global stage also bind us together. But nothing ever happens by itself. Everything depends on the commitment of dedicated individuals, and Violaine is a perfect example of this.”

His Excellency Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia to France

“France and Estonia have enormous potential to develop concrete partnerships between French mid‑caps and large groups and the Estonian startup ecosystem. This complementarity is a strategic lever for European innovation, competitiveness and economic sovereignty.”

“This decoration certainly highlights my own career, but it also honours all those who work towards a closer relationship between Estonia and France. In this regard, I would like to thank Vincent Caure, Member of Parliament for the 3rd constituency of French citizens abroad, and the French Embassy in Estonia, His Excellency Emmanuel Mignot, as well as Economic Counsellor Antoine Mattis, for their constant support.”

Violaine Champetier de Ribes, President of the France–Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

About the France–Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The France–Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a member of the CCI France International network, present in 98 countries through 125 chambers.(www.ccife.ee)

About France–Estonia bilateral trade

Franco‑Estonian trade in services has doubled since 2019 and, in 2023, 40% of the total value of bilateral trade came from services, compared with an average of around 34% for Estonia’s overall foreign trade. In late 2024 and early 2025, available data confirm the increase in service flows, particularly digital services, and the rise of France’s position as a supplier of goods, in a context where the goods balance remains in France’s favour but is offset by Estonia’s surplus in services.