Overview
Capital: Paris
Official EU language(s): French
EU Member State: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro (€) Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: member since 26 March 1995
Figures:
- Geographical size: 638 475 km2
- Population: 68 070 697 (2023)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for geographical size and population)
Political system
France is a semi-presidential republic with a prime minister, who is the head of government, appointed by the president who is the directly elected head of state. France’s territory consists of 18 administrative regions: 13 metropolitan (i.e. Continental France) and 5 overseas regions. All 5 of the overseas regions, as well as Saint-Martin (a French territory in the Caribbean), are considered part of the EU (with the status of outermost region). Strasbourg is one of the three official seats of the European institutions. The others are Brussels and Luxembourg City.
Trade and economy
France ranks eleventh in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita with €35 500, which is the same as the EU average. It accounts for 17.2% of the EU's total GDP.
(Source: Eurostat - figures for GDP per capita and GDP)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for exports and imports)
There are 79 representatives from France in the European Parliament. Find out who these Members of the European Parliament are and follow the activities of the European Parliament’s office in France.
In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Representatives from the French government attend Council meetings focused on their area of responsibility several times a year.
The Council of the EU does not have a permanent, single-person president (like the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.
During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in the different policy areas, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.
Dates of French presidencies:
Jan-Jun 1959 | Jan-Jun 1962 | Jan-Jun 1965 | Jan-Jun 1968 | Jan-Jun 1971 | Jul-Dec 1974 | Jan-Jun 1979 | Jan-Jun 1984 | Jul-Dec 1989 | Jan-Jun 1995 | Jul-Dec 2000 | Jan-Jun 2008 | Jan-Jun 2022
The European Commissioner nominated by France is Thierry Breton, who is responsible for the Internal Market.
The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation". Find out more about the Commission's representation in France.
France has 24 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in different countries.
France has 24 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.
France also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As France's "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are heard and pursued as much as possible in the EU.
Budgets and funding
How much does France pay and receive from the EU?
The EU budget is the tool to ensure that Europe remains a democratic, peaceful, prosperous and competitive force. The EU uses it to finance its priorities and big projects that most individual EU countries could not finance on their own.
The benefits of EU membership significantly exceed the size of the EU budget contributions and the examples are many. All Member States benefit from being part of the Single Market, a shared approach to the common challenges of migration, terrorism and climate change, and concrete gains like better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services and cutting-edge medical treatment.
How much each EU country pays into the EU budget is calculated fairly. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa.
The EU budget is not about giving and taking – it’s about collectively contributing to making Europe and the world a better place for us all.
EU budget spending and revenue per country and per year
EU-funded projects in France
Money from the EU budget helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries – for example to build roads, subsidise researchers and protect the environment.
Find out more about how France benefits from EU funding and recovery funds in your country or region.