France

Eifel Tower in Paris, France. (Photo: Notat)
France has a population of 59.3 million and an area of 544,000 km2. It was one of the original EEC Member States. At present, it has 10 out of 87 votes and 87 out of 626 seats in the EU Parliament.

Notes

France and Germany consider themselves the engine-room of European integration. This understanding made it necessary to find compromises within their joint relationship. Thus, France finally accepted German reunification, but at the price of sharing political power. Germany had to introduce the Euro against the will of its citizens, and France agreed to create a Common Foreign and Security Policy, which implied the sharing of its nuclear weapons with Germany. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and with its own nuclear weapons, France is far more influential in world politics, whereas Germany used to be Europe’s economic force. Thus both countries benefitted from the deal which was presented as a Monetary Union in return for a Political Union.

The future

After the first enlargement, France will have 29 votes out of 321 in the Council and 78 seats out of 732 in the EU Parliament.

Links

http://www.france.com/