General characteristics

Official Name: French Republic

Form of government: Republic
Capital: Paris
Population: 67, 092, 056
Official languages: French
Monetary unit: Euro
Area: 543,965 square kilometres
Major mountain ranges: Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central
Major rivers: Seine, Rhine and Rhône
Geographical position and natural resources
Geographical position.The natural resources of France are relatively limited in quantity. The
largest country in Western Europe, France has long been a gateway between the continent’s
northern and southern regions. Its lengthy borders touch Germany and Belgium in the north, the
Atlantic Ocean in the west, and the Pyrenees mountains and Spain in the south. It also borders
the Mediterranean sea in the southeast, and the Alps, Switzerland and Italy in the east.

France has a very diverse landscape. There are beautiful beaches on the southeast coast, home to
the French Riviera, and towering mountains in the south and east, where the snow-capped
French Alps rise to the sky. Europe’s tallest peak, Monte Blanc, is found in the French Alps,
standing at a massive 4,810m tall! Mountains. Some mountains are snow-capped all year round.
France's highest mountains are the French Alps and Jura Mountains, bordering Italy and
Switzerland, and the Pyrénées, along the frontier with Spain. The highest mountain is Mont
Blanc in the French Alps. It rises to 4,807m (15,771 ft). Mount Blanc is also the highest peak in
the whole of Europe

Natural resources. when it comes to natural resources, France surprisingly has a limited reserve.
Much of the natural minerals that were abundant across the nation were depleted after they were
heavily exploited during the industrial revolution that played a huge part in turning France into
what it is today. Some of the natural resources found in France include the following:

Coal
Back in the 1800s, France had colossal coal reserves which have over time become depleted
through overuse. The quality of the ore was low and could not compete with coal from other
nations. Much of it was used domestically instead. As the world changed and new sources of
energy were discovered, coal mining in France drastically reduced until it was stopped in 2004.
This was brought about by the need to conserve the environment by turning to environmentally
friendly sources of energy. The current French president has pledged to shut down all coal
mining activities in France by the year 2021.
Natural Gas
Natural gas was first discovered in the south-western region of France called Lacq in 1957 where
it was estimated that approximately 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas were trapped
underground ready for extraction. Production started in 1958 but declined in 1978 after the
depletion of the reserves. By the end of the millennia, natural gas production was negligible and
too small to support the country's needs forcing France to turn to imports.
Uranium
Uranium deposits are located in the Massif Central which at one time had uranium ore reserves
estimated at 50,000 tonnes. France, however, has a very high demand for energy and the uranium
deposits are unable to meet, in fact uranium mining in France came to an end in 2001 which
forced the country to turn to the importation of uranium to cover for more than half of the annual
energy consumption with Niger being one of its primary uranium sources. There were more than
59 active nuclear plants as of 2010 with all of them contributing around 94.6% of all the primary
electricity used in homes and factories around the country.
Thermal and Solar Energy
In 2016 France inaugurated their first geothermal power station in Marseille with the aim of
providing an alternative to wind energy. Solar power is another area that France has actively
been engaging in with a total output of about 7,165 MW produced in 2016 alone. France’s
strategic location allows it to receive long hours of direct sunshine which makes solar energy a
viable option.
Wind Energy
As of 2015, France was the 8th largest wind power nation in the world producing a total of 10.38
MW of electricity. The vast land area in France and the nature of the landscape has given France
a huge potential of maximizing on wind energy production which goes a long way in reducing
the strain on nuclear and hydroelectric energies. Future projection estimates indicate that France
will be able to produce 26,000 MW by 2023.
Bauxite
Bauxite was first discovered in France in 1821 in the Brignoles region in the Foix mining
district. The strange thing about this particular bauxite mine is that not much has happened since
the discovery, though the area has been undergoing routine maintenance with no large-scale
extraction of the bauxite itself leaving the deposit mostly untouched. This has been attributed to
the non-viability of a massive mining operation as those involved consider the bauxite deposit to
be too small to justify any significant extraction undertaking.
Features of formation and development of the economic system
France is one of the major economic powers of the world, ranking along with such countries as
the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Its financial position reflects
an extended period of unprecedented growth that lasted for much of the postwar period until the
mid-1970s; frequently this period was referred to as the trente glorieuses (“thirty years of
glory”). Between 1960 and 1973 alone, the increase in gross domestic product (GDP) averaged
nearly 6 percent each year. In the aftermath of the oil crises of the 1970s, growth rates were
moderated considerably and unemployment rose substantially. By the end of the 1980s, however,
strong expansion was again evident. This trend continued, although at a more modest rate, into
the 21st century.
Despite the dominance of the private sector, the tradition of a mixed economy in France is well
established. Successive governments have intervened to protect or promote different types of
economic activity, as has been clearly reflected in the country’s national plans and nationalized
industries. In the decades following World War II, the French economy was guided by a
succession of national plans, each covering a span of approximately four to five years and
designed to indicate rather than impose growth targets and development strategies.
Postwar economic growth has been accompanied by a substantial rise in living standards,
reflected in the increasing number of families that own their home (about half), a reduction in the
workweek (fixed at 35 hours), and the increase of vacation days taken each year by the French
people. Another indicator of improved living standards is the growth of ownership of various
household and consumer goods, particularly such items as automobiles and computers. Over
time, however, consumption patterns have altered significantly. As incomes have risen,
proportionately less has been spent on food and clothing and more on items such as housing,
transportation, health, and leisure. Workers’ incomes are taxed at a high to moderate rate, and
indirect taxation in the form of a value-added tax (VAT) is relatively high. Overall, taxes and
social security contributions levied on employers and employees in France are higher than in
many other European countries.
The economy of the country
In 2019, France ranked as the world’s seventh largest economic power, just behind the United
Kingdom and India. The country’s recovery from the economic crisis has come later than in
other European countries and remains fragile due to structural imbalances. After growing at an
estimated rate of 1.7% in 2018, GDP grew by an estimated 1.2% in 2019, supported by robust
investment, solid consumption, favourable external conditions and domestic reforms. The IMF
expects a 1.3% GDP growth for both 2020 and 2021. The OECD also forecasts moderate growth
for 2020-21, around 1.2%. The negative impact of industrial action and strikes in the public
sector, as well as a fragile and uncertain global economic environment, are all obstacles to
growth.
As announced during his campaign, President Emmanuel Macron launched shortly after his
election an ambitious reform program, aiming at addressing France’s structural challenges and
bolstering the economy’s resilience. His government succeeded in passing key labour market and
tax reforms meant to enhance labour market flexibility and to better align labour costs with
productivity, as well as a reform changing the status of the SNCF (state-owned rail transport
company). Nevertheless, those reforms were received by a wave of protests which increased
when the pension reform plan was unveiled on December 11, 2019. The public deficit has
widened as a result of tax measures aimed at increasing purchasing power and the conversion of
the competitiveness and employment tax credit (CICE) into a permanent reduction in employer
contributions. According to the 2019 amending finance law, the budget deficit reached 3.1% of
GDP in 2019, its highest level in nine years. It should be brought below the European target of
3% of GDP in 2020 and reach 2.2% GDP according to the 2020 finance bill. French public debt
(99.3% of GDP according to the IMF) is one of the highest in the eurozone and shows no
downward trend. Low interest rates, however, allow the debt burden to be reduced for the time
being. Inflation, which reached 2.1% in 2018 fell to 1.2% in 2019 and is expected to remain at
this level in 2020 (1.3%) according to IMF estimates. The 2020 budget provides for further tax
cuts and other incentives aimed at supporting the purchasing power of workers and the
competitiveness of businesses; further simplification of administrative measures and taxation;
the pursuit of the poverty reduction strategy; the increase in the defense and security budget; and
support for the energy transition (development of the electric vehicle market). The "Large
investment plan" is also continuing, with the aim of accelerating the emergence of a new growth
model. It responds to four major challenges: accelerating the ecological transition, building a
competent society, anchoring competitiveness on innovation and building the state of the digital
age.
France faces structural challenges: high structural unemployment, weak competitiveness, and
high public and private debt burdens. High unemployment rates, especially among youth, remain
a growing concern for policymakers. Despite its gradual decline, unemployment rate remains
high, estimated by the IMF at 8.6% in 2019 and at 8.4% in 2020. Social mobility remains low
and the employment rates of many disadvantaged groups are poor. The labour reform passed in
2017 aims at injecting more flexibility in the labor market.
Foreign economic activity
Export. Formally the French Republic, France shipped US$555.1 billion worth of goods around
the globe in 2019. That dollar metric reflects a -2.4% decrease from 2018 to 2019 compared to a
12.1% increase in value since 2015.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2019, the euro appreciated by 0.9% against the US dollar
since 2015 but declined by -5.5% from 2018 to 2019. The weaker EU currency in 2019 made
France’s exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive for international buyers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 68% of products exported from France were
bought by importers in: Germany (14.1% of the global total), United States (8.5%), Italy (7.6%),
Spain (7.5%), Belgium (6.9%), United Kingdom (6.8%), China (4.2%), Switzerland (3.6%),
Netherlands (3.5%), Poland (2.1%), Singapore (1.7%) and Japan (1.6%).
From a continental perspective, 64.3% of France exports by value were delivered to fellow
European countries while 17.4% were sold to importers in Asia. France shipped another 10%
worth of goods to North America and Africa (5.2%). Smaller percentages went to Latin America
excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean (1.9%) then Oceania led by Australia (1%).
Given France’s population of 64.8 million people, its total $555.1 billion in 2019 exports
translates to roughly $8,600 for every resident in the European Union member nationy.
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in French global
shipments during 2019. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in
terms of overall exports from France.
Machinery including computers: US$67.3 billion (12.1% of total exports);
Aircraft, spacecraft: $53.5 billion (9.6%);
Vehicles: $52.8 billion (9.5%);
Electrical machinery, equipment: $43.4 billion (7.8%);
Pharmaceuticals: $35.5 billion (6.4%);
Plastics, plastic articles: $20.9 billion (3.8%);
Perfumes, cosmetics: $20.1 billion (3.6%);
Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $19.3 billion (3.5%);
Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $17.6 billion (3.2%);
Mineral fuels including oil: $15.5 billion (2.8%);
France’s top 10 export categories accounted for over three-fifths (62.3%) of the overall value of
its global shipments.
Pharmaceuticals represents the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 4.9%
since 2018. In second place for improving export sales was the optical, technical and medical
apparatus subcategory thanks to its 4.2% gain. France’s deliveries of aircraft and spacecraft
posted the third-fastest gain in value up by 3.1%. The leading decliner among France’s top 10
export categories was mineral fuels including oil via a -17.1% drop.
Imports. French imports totaled US$638 billion in 2019, up by 13.3% since 2015 but down by
-3.4% from 2018 to 2019. Based on the average exchange rate for 2019, the euro appreciated by
0.9% against the US dollar since 2015 but declined by -5.5% from 2018 to 2019. The weaker EU
currency makes France’s imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive since
2018 when converted starting from the US dollar.
French imports represent 3.2% of total global imports which totaled an estimated $19.665 trillion
one year earlier during 2018 (as calculated on February 8, 2020).
From a continental perspective, almost two-thirds (62.6%) of France’s total imports by value in
2019 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners supplied 21.7% of
import purchases by France while 7.6% worth originated from North America. Smaller
percentages came from Africa (4.6%), Latin America (1.2%) excluding Mexico but including the
Caribbean, then Oceania (0.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand. Given France’s population
of 64.8 million people, its total $638 billion in 2019 imports translates to roughly $9,800 in
yearly product demand from every person in the European Union nation.
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in France’s import purchases
during 2019. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of
overall imports into France.
Machinery including computers: US$83.6 billion (13.1% of total imports)
Vehicles: $73.3 billion (11.5%)
Mineral fuels including oil: $65.9 billion (10.3%)
Electrical machinery, equipment: $56.6 billion (8.9%)
Pharmaceuticals: $25.1 billion (3.9%)
Plastics, plastic articles: $24.2 billion (3.8%)
Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $20.7 billion (3.2%)
Aircraft, spacecraft: $20.6 billion (3.2%)
Organic chemicals: $15.4 billion (2.4%)
Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): $12.3 billion (1.9%)
France’s top 10 imports accounted for nearly two-thirds (62.3%) of the overall value of its
product purchases from other countries.
Only one top product category declined in value, namely French imports of optical, technical and
medical apparatus via its 5.5% incerase year over year. Leading the declining categories were
mineral fuels including oil (down -10.5%), plastics including items made from plastic (down
-6.9%) then organic chemicals (down -5.6%).
At the more detailed four-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level, France’s top
imported goods are: cars (6% of France’s total imports), crude oil (3.8%), processed petroleum
oils (3.7%), turbo-jets (also 2.7%), automobile parts or accessories (2.6%), medication mixes in
dosage (2.5%), aircraft parts (2.4%), petroleum gases (2.1%), mobile phones (1.8%), computers
(1.5%) then trucks (1.1%).
Relations with Ukraine
Relations between Ukraine and France have long been limited, due to the main orientations of
the French foreign policy, more directly concerned with the Southern rather than the Eastern
neighbourhood and focused much more on Russia in the East. On the other side, Ukraine has
been inconsistent in developing its relations with the EU countries since its independence,
including France. However, over the last two years, the two countries have developed new areas
of cooperation, especially within the ‘Normandy format’. Therefore, as a side effect of the
conflict between Ukraine and Russia, relations between Kyiv and Paris became the right thing
for the wrong reason, boosting an intense cooperation between the two. Despite Paris’s focus on
the South, Ukraine became a top-10 foreign policy priority after the start of Russian aggression
in Ukraine.
The importance of France for Ukraine is paramount, since France is a staunch defender of
Ukraine’s sovereignty and enforcer of European security, including Paris’s role within the
“Normandy format.” However, France’s policy towards Ukraine is crippled by a lack of
expertise on Ukraine and a pro-Russian political and business lobby. Paris is genuinely lacking
an independent voice on matters related to Ukraine, falling in the footsteps of Germany and
bandwagoning at Minsk-2.
Like many other EU Member-States, France hesitates between two options in its foreign policy
toward Ukraine: developing a separate track, or making Ukraine subordinate to France’s own
foreign policy toward Russia. France’s stance in the “Russia-Ukraine” dilemma is the following:
it sees Russia as an EU rival in the East, but as a partner in the South. The “Russia first”
approach has been seriously questioned due to the conflict in Ukraine, but the terrorist attacks in
Paris and Brussels and the refugee crisis have contributed to shifting the focus of public opinion
on the Syrian conflict.
Ukraine can raise its profile in France if it brands itself as ‘a country of solutions,’ rather than
‘the defender of European identity against Russia’. Providing a positive message should be an
essential part of the communication efforts of Ukrainian authorities at a time when the
government is criticized for its insufficient reforms and modest results in fighting corruption.
Kyiv formulates the key general interest of Ukraine toward France as follows:
1. Engaging a key state for the European integration process in order to make sure that, in the
medium-run, Ukraine remains among French priorities. Engaging France on a longterm basis
would certainly help to strengthen a European consensus on supporting domestic reforms in
Ukraine.
2. France as an important country that has the ability to significantly contribute to a united EU
policy on the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the maintenance of the EU
sanctions against Russia.
3. A fair partner in conflict settlement efforts, including the implementation of the Minsk
package.
4. France is a country that could represent a source of investments in Ukraine, not only in the
traditional areas (agriculture, banking, etc.), but also in ICT, infrastructure, military, etc.
French interests towards Ukraine are driven by political and economic factors, and shaped to
some extent by its relations with Russia. They can be summarised as follows:
1. Stopping the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, as it could undermine the stability of other regions
in the country, and heralding Ukrainian sovereignty over the Crimea;
2. Preventing the destabilization and disintegration of Ukraine and deterioration of its socio-
economic conditions;
3. Consolidation of Ukraine, both politically and through a comprehensive set of reforms;
4. Supporting Ukraine’s transformation according to the European model, though not necessarily
pushing for a new EU enlargement in the coming years.
Strengths and weaknesses of the economic system
Strengths Weaknesses
 High-quality infrastructure and public  Too few exporting companies, loss of
services competitiveness and market share
 Skilled and productive workforce,  Weakening level of product
dynamic demographics sophistication; insufficient focus on
 Powerful tourism industry innovation
 Competitive international groups  Low employment rate among young
(aerospace, energy, environment, people and older workers
pharmaceuticals, luxury, food,  Room for more efficiency in public
distribution) expenditure
 Global agricultural leader  High public debt
 High level of savings  Growing private debt

Interesting facts
France: people and culture;
France is one of the oldest nations on Earth and the most ethnically diverse country in Europe.
These deep and broad influences have made France a world leader throughout history in
different aspects of culture, including cuisine, philosophy, music, art, film, fashion, literature and
sport.
french cheeses;
More than 350 kinds of cheese are made in France. What is France Famous for? France is
famous for cheese (Camembert, Brie, Roquefort) wine, perfume (Chanel, Dior, Givenchy) and
cars (Renault, Citroen, Peugeot).France is also famous for the Tour de France and the Eiffel.
famous landmarks of Paris;
Symbols such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter,
Montmartre, and the Georges Pompidou Center make Paris one of the most visited places in the
world.
sport;
Every summer more than 100 professional cyclists race in the Tour de France. The race is
approximately 2,000 miles long. The race lasts up to three weeks and is held in July. The route
changes from year to year.
In France, it’s possible to marry a dead person
In the 50’s it was decided that it should be allowed to marry a dead person, under special
circumstances. One needs to prove that there were already plans on getting married, and also
send a formal request to the President.
The one who marries a dead person will not inherit and the family of the deceased must approve
the marriage as well.
Louis XIX was king for 20 minutes
The shortest period a king or queen has ever reigned over a country was when Louis XIX,
technically could claim himself as the king of France. It took about 20 minutes before he
abdicated from the throne, and he never really ruled the country.
Male impotence was considered a crime in the 17th century
Back in the 1600’s in France, it was considered a crime if a man wasn’t able to get an erection,
and this was enough to let a woman file for divorce. If a married woman accused her husband of
male impotence, he had to prove the contrary in front of an expert panel.
If he failed, which was understandably quite common, the man could also demand to get a
second chance by having intercourse with his wife in front of a judge. Quite an obscene fact
about France. The law was banished in 1677.
The Country’s Famous Landmark Has Been Destroyed Recently
fun fact about France: Notre Dame cathedral is now almost completely damaged. One of the
saddest France facts is that the country’s landmark, home of the famous hunchback, the Notre
Dame cathedral has been damaged. In April 2019, a fire broke out. The cathedral in Paris has
been on fire for 15 hours. It’s now badly damaged. The reconstruction will take up to 5 years, so
it should be available for sightseeing again in 2024.