What do you know about... France?

[u/MarktpLatz]

This is the sixteenth part of our ongoing series about the countries of Europe. You can find an overview here.

Todays country:

France

France is the second most populous country in the EU. They were the most important voice in creating the EU (and its predecessors), to elevate their own power and to prevent further war with Germany. Hence, French is a very important language for the EU and especially for some institutions like the ECJ whose working language is French. They have just elected a new president last sunday and they will have parliamentary elections in june.

So, what do you know about France?

[u/mikatom]

high culture, fashion houses and couture, Paris, Lyon, great cuisine, Provence, strong pharmaceutical and beauty industries, love-hate relationship with England, former colonial power, french are socially conscious and they have strong labour unions, very diverse countryside from Alps and mediterranean to the north sea and atlantic