France's Macron to outline EU vision as he arrives in Greece

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Greece Thursday for the start of a two-day visit expected to focus on European affairs and Greece's financial crisis.

Security is tight for the visit, with Greek authorities banning protests through a large part of central Athens and mobilizing more than 2,000 police on the capital's streets.

Macron, who arrived with a sizeable delegation of French business leaders, was due to head to a meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos before holding talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and speaking at a joint news conference. He was to deliver a speech Thursday evening at the Pnyx, a symbol of ancient Athenian democracy.

Greece considers France a vital ally and counterweight to fiscally hawkish Germany in its efforts to ease the stringent terms of its international bailouts. The country has relied on...