France

F R A N C E

History

France became its own country in the 9th century.

FRENCH GOVERNMENT

• Strong, centralized government

• Current President is Nicolas Sarkozy

• Many political parties

• Constantly-shifting alliances.

FRANCE ECONOMY

• France is one of the most richly endowed countries of Europe:

Favorable climate Extensive areas of rich soil Long-established tradition of skilled agriculture.

• However, France in 2002 fell from being the world's 4th largest economy to 5th, being replaced by UK.

• Government debt was projected to rise above 60% of GDP in 2003, and the deficit was forecast to reach 3.5% of GDP, exceeding the 3% of GDP limit set by the EU.

GDP & GROWTH RATE

TRADING

IMPORTS EXPORTS

Machinery

Pharmaceutical products

Iron and steel

Vehicles

Aircraft

Chemicals

Did you know that ?

France and the United States are the world's top two exporting countries in defense products, agricultural goods, and services.

Acquisition of French Nationality

Naturalization• A person aged 18 or above may

apply for French citizenship after five years' habitual and continuous residence in France

 By marriage• Since 26 November 2003

Immigration policies

French immigration Act 1998

• The main aim of the act was to integrate foreign nationals into the French culture.

•  This event is subject to the children residing in France for longer than five years and this five year period only begins after the age of eleven.

• Stipulated that immigrants seeking asylum will have more rights to live in France. It gives foreign nationals more rights in terms of residency, which takes the form of new entry visas categories. 

Opinion on

Turkey’s accession into the

EU

• Sarkozy fiercely opposes Turkey's E.U. entry, putting a premium on traditional European boundaries, and ignoring Turkey's European political and economic credentials.

• On September 26, 2007, Sarkozy stated, "I do not think that Turkey has a place in Europe," claiming instead that Turkey's place was in "Asia Minor."

Sarkozy's Policy on Turkey's E.U. Accession: Bad for France?

In essence, Sarkozy is telling France's 5 million Muslims that they have a place in French society if they adopt France's Western values and participate in its secular democratic institutions. By rejecting Turkey—a secular democracy with a pro-Western orientation—Sarkozy is sending the French Muslims another message: regardless of how secular, democratic, and Western you become, there is no official place for you in Europe.

MINORITIES

• France is an indivisible Republic, democratic and social. It ensures equality, in the eyes of the law, for all the citizens, without distinction of origin, race or religion.

• Share of immigrants and foreigners in France, 2006 immigrants: 4 930 000

FRANCE attitude towards Greece financial crisis

The country's Opinion towards the Financial Crisis of Greece

 France and Germany believe that any recourse

by Greece to the IMF would damage the euro’s prestige and highlight their inability to sort out internal problems.

Major problems

• Integrating minorities : a French challenge• Increasing retirement age from 60 to 62

years

Merci