France and the EU

Latest business news about France and the European Union

• France country profile

New leader of France's Socialists calls for new economic model — 02 December 2008, 00:34 CET

The new leader of France's opposition Socialist Party, Martine Aubry, called Monday for the establishment of a new economic model in the wake of the global financial crisis.

French court refuses to ban Sarkozy voodoo doll — 29 November 2008, 01:46 CET

A Paris appeals court refused Friday to ban a Nicolas Sarkozy voodoo doll, but ordered the novelty to be sold with a label describing it as offensive to the French president.

Sarkozy rolls out France's EUR 20bn investment fund — 20 November 2008, 19:01 CET

President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday unveiled a 20-billion-euro fund to shore up key French companies threatened by the economic crisis and protect them from foreign predators.

Sarkozy chides Bush over Georgia, ahead of G20 summit — 13 November 2008, 18:36 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday invited an audience to compare his leadership during the Georgia-Russia crisis to that of outgoing US President George W. Bush -- a day before the pair are due to meet at a Washington G20 summit.

France announces sovereign wealth fund to protect champions — 24 October 2008, 12:32 CET

President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced the creation of a French sovereign wealth fund, promising to protect the strategic heights of the economy from the global financial storm.

EU approves French support for fisheries: minister — 22 October 2008, 00:02 CET

The EU has approved France's EUR 310m financial package to support its fishing industry, the country's agriculture and fishing minister says.

France thrives as Europe's crisis-manager: analysts — 14 October 2008, 14:32 CET

From war in the Caucasus to the meltdown in global finance, France's presidency of the European Union has turned into an crash-course in managing crises that are changing the political landscape.

France rolls out EUR 360bn bank rescue plan — 13 October 2008, 22:27 CET

President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday rolled out a 360-billion-euro plan to shore up French banks, offering loan guarantees and capital to avert collapse in the eurozone's second economy.

France unveils 360-billion-euro bank rescue plan — 13 October 2008, 16:00 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday announced a 360-billion-euro (490-billion-dollar) bail-out plan to pump capital into the country's banks and underwrite loans between them.

France not seeking to duck EU finance rules: Sarkozy aide — 05 October 2008, 15:59 CET

France is not seeking to duck its EU public finance obligations, a top aide to President Nicolas Sarkozy said Sunday, after European leaders called for rules to be eased in light of the credit crunch.

France welcomes EU military progress but coy about NATO future — 01 October 2008, 19:22 CET

French Defence Minister Herve Morin welcomed Wednesday progress in building EU military capabilities but would not say whether it would be enough for France to fully reintegrate into NATO.

France to miss 2012 deadline to close public deficit — 26 September 2008, 22:54 CET

The French public deficit will remain stable at 2.7 per cent of GDP for this year and the next and will not be wiped out by 2012 as France had promised the European Union, the government said on Friday.

French, Russian PMs bond over economy — 21 September 2008, 00:11 CET

The prime ministers of France and Russia sought Saturday to overcome tensions thrown up by the conflict in Georgia by focusing their attention on economic issues.

Marseille European Capital of Culture for France in 2013 — 18 September 2008, 14:46 CET

The jury responsible for assessing the applications for the title of "European Capital of Culture 2013", which met on16 September in Paris recommends that the title be bestowed on Marseille for France. Four cities were still in contention after the preselection meeting last December: Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. The choice of Marseille should be formally endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the European Union in May 2009.

Sarkozy's attacks against trade talks could scupper deal: experts — 09 July 2008, 13:26 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's attacks on the World Trade Organisation negotiations could wreck the chances of reaching a new global trade deal at a meeting of leading countries this month, experts say.

Sarkozy 'undermining' EU position at trade talks: Mandelson — 02 July 2008, 00:37 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is "undermining" the European Union's position at world trade talks, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said in an interview Tuesday.

Sarkozy sparks new clash with EU trade chief Mandelson — 01 July 2008, 23:32 CET

Tensions between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson flared on Tuesday over new criticism from the French leader, casting an early cloud over France's EU presidency.

French EU presidency hits rocky start — 02 July 2008, 00:38 CET

France's presidency of the European Union got off to a rocky start on Tuesday with Poland baulking at a key treaty and President Nicolas Sarkozy in a public spat with European trade chief Peter Mandelson.

Sarkozy sparks new clash with EU trade chief with 'attack' — 01 July 2008, 17:38 CET

Tensions between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and EU trade chief Peter Mandelson flared on Tuesday over new criticism from the French leader, casting an early cloud over France's EU presidency.

UNHCR warns Sarkozy over EU immigration plans — 01 July 2008, 18:39 CET

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned France not to tighten EU immigration policy at the expense of refugees' rights, as it took over the bloc's presidency Tuesday.

France takes helm of crisis-ridden European Union — 01 July 2008, 12:08 CET

France took the helm of the European Union Tuesday with President Nicolas Sarkozy calling for profound change even as Poland plunged the bloc further into crisis by blocking the EU's new reform treaty.

French public debt rises to 65.3 per cent of output — 27 June 2008, 17:12 CET

France's public debt rose 1.4 points to 65.3 per cent of output in the first quarter compared with fourth quarter 2007, well above the 60 per cent level recommended by the European Union, official figures showed on Friday.

Sarkozy rules out WTO deal after Irish EU treaty rejection — 20 June 2008, 11:00 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy ruled out on Friday a free-trade deal at the World Trade Organisation after Ireland's rejection of the EU's Lisbon treaty in a referendum.

France deports more illegal immigrants — 19 June 2008, 18:57 CET

France has deported nearly 15,000 illegal immigrants in the first five months of this year, an 80 percent jump from the same period last year, Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux said Thursday.

150 MEPs decry French court annulment of non-virgin's marriage — 07 June 2008, 00:05 CET

Some 150 members of the European Parliament have sent a petition to the French justice minister denouncing a court's annulment of a marriage on the grounds that the Muslim bride was not a virgin.