Date of Entry: September 20, 1972

National Day: July 14

Type of Government: Republic

Head of State: President Emmanuel Macron (May 15, 2017)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Édouard Philippe (May 15, 2017)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development: Jean-Yves Le Drian (May 2017)

Permanent Observer: Ambassador Michel Pinard (October 2015)

ECONOMIC INDICATORS / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016
Population (in millons) / 65.03 / 65.34 / 65.66 / 65.97 / 66.27 / 66.54 / 66.89
GDP (US$ in trillions) / 2.647 / 2.863 / 2.681 / 2.809 / 2.839 / 2.419 / 2.465
GDP per capita (US$) / 40,705.766 / 43,807.476 / 40,838 / 42,571.2 / 42,543.02 / 36,352.48 / 36,854.968

Source: www.tradingeconomics.com World Bank

FOREIGN RELATIONS POLICIES:

§  France’s foreign policy is based on the following fundamental principles: the right of peoples to self-determination, respect for human rights and democratic principles, respect for the rule of law and cooperation among nations. Priority is given to promoting democratic governance with a view towards establishing sustainable human development.

§  French Official Development Assistance (ODA) focuses on four thematic areas:

o  Promoting peace, stability, human rights and gender equality

o  Equity, social justice and human development

o  Sustainable, job-rich economic development

o  Protecting the environment and global public goods

§  France works with the United Nations (UN) Security Council, UN Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Environmental Organization (UNEO), European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), NATO, the WTO, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS, DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS (DGM)

§  The DGM defines and implements France’s action in economic and societal areas with regard to international organizations and globally-oriented intergovernmental organizations and mobilizes France’s network abroad on global issues;

§  The DGM was restructured in March 2013 and structures its mission around three main pillars:

o  Economic diplomacy (support French companies and monitoring strategic sectors for the French economy)

o  Development policy (development strategies for global public goods)

o  Soft diplomacy (cultural academic and research cooperation).

AGENCE FRANÇAISE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT (AFD) – FRENCH AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT–:

§  AFD is a financial institution and the main implementing agency for France’s official development assistance to developing countries and overseas territories.

§  AFD provides funding and technical assistance for development projects and programs that enhance more sustainable and shared economic growth, work to preserve the environment, and stabilize countries in fragile situations.

§  Sub-Saharan Africa is the priority region for AFD’s cooperation, designating 46% of all foreign aid and 37% of AFD’s financial commitments to that region in 2013.

§  In Latin America and the Caribbean, AFD works in Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Peru and Suriname in the areas of sustainable urban development, renewable energy, transport infrastructure, and poverty reduction.

§  In 2013, AFD provided grants worth €48.7 million to finance 73 projects conducted by 56 civil society organizations, and joined other donors to co-finance 37 projects totaling €1.7 billion

§  AFD partners with other development banks (notably the Inter-American Development Bank) to co-fund projects, and participates in discussions about development with institutions such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

INVOLVMENT WITH THE AMERICAS

§  France maintains embassies in 27 OAS Member States: Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.

CURRENT COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE OAS:

§  Agreement for a French contribution of €150,000 to the OAS Electoral Observation Missions Fund. Signed April 21, 2014 and valid until December 31, 2016.

§  Memorandum of Understanding for the participation of France in the Hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition; Agreement signed on November 28, 2012.

CASH CONTRIBUTIONS 2005-2016:

YEAR / FRANCE / P.O. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS / %
2005 / $47,468.00 / $11,650,039.00 / 0.41%
2006 / $255,538.00 / $19,060,470.00 / 1.34%
2007 / $194,086.00 / $20,398,686.00 / 0.95%
2008 / $197,597.00 / $22,684,500.00 / 0.87%
2009 / $90,376.00 / $20,318,115.00 / 0.44%
2010 / $486,656.00 / $15,781,991.00 / 3.08%
2011 / $430,858.00 / $15,692,757.00 / 2.75%
2012 / $344,216.00 / $13,239,105.00 / 2.60%
2013 / $48,573.00 / $16,926,686.00 / 0.29%
2014 / $200,565.00 / $10,999,882.00 / 1.82%
2015 / $46,669.00 / $17,489,205.00 / 0.27%
2016 / $177,658.00 / $14,048,254.00 / 1.26%
Total US$ / $2,520,260.00 / $198,289,690.00 / 1.27%

FRANCE CONTRIBUTIONS:

YEAR / PROJECTS / FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
IN US$ / IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
IN US$
1999 / Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – International Civilian Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH) / $49,180.00
Trade Unit - Intern / $20,000.00
Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $3,000.00
Columbus Memorial Library - Book / $20.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Seminar in Martinique / $19,300.00
SUBTOTAL / $49,180.00 / $42,320.00
2000 / Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) / $203,118.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) / $81,353.00
Department of International Law (DIL) – Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $3,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Anti-Drug Training Course for Central American Customs Officials, Martinique / $5,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $284,471.00 / $8,000.00
2001 / Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – RECTOD / $29,000.00
Department of International Law (DIL) – Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $3,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Anti-Drug Training Course for Central American Customs Officials, Martinique / $5,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $29,000.00 / $8,000.00
2002 / Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – Demining Program / $75,255.00
CICAD/CIFAD Andean Regional Seminar on Combating Money Laundering and Corruption / $31,858.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) - RECTOD / $29,316.00
OAS Special Mission in Haiti (Equipment and Technical Assistance) / $140,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Technical and Professional Assistance / $50,700.00
Department of International Law (DIL) – Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $2,500.00
SUBTOTAL / $136,429.00 / $193,200.00
2003 / Sustainable Development Unit / $138,888.00
Office of the Assistant Secretary General – Special Mission in Haiti / $350,683.00
Department of International Law (DIL) – Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $3,760.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Technical Assistance / $99,600.00
SUBTOTAL / $489,571.00 / $103,360.00
2004 / Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) / $51,104.00 / $140,000.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Haiti / $150,024.00
Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) – Demining Program / $72,984.00
Secretariat for Political Affairs (SPA) – Inter-American Forum on Political Parties / $66,902.00
SUBTOTAL / $341,014.00 / $140,000.00
2005 / Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – General Fund / $47,468.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Anti-Money Laundering Support / $96,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $47,468.00 / $96,000.00
2006 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Support to Human Rights Activities in Haiti / $171,304.00
Department of External Relations (DER) – Lecture Series of the Americas / $11,994.00
Summit Follow-Up – American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples / $20,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) / $52,240.00
Department of International Law (DIL) – Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $3,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $255,538.00 / $3,000.00
2007 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) / $65,395.00
Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) / $10,000.00
Inter-American Commission Against Terrorism (CICTE) / $10,000.00
Indigenous Rights / $20,000.00
Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) / $20,000.00
Department of External Relations (DER) / $5,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) / $53,691.00
Emergency Relief Fund (FONDEM) / $10,000.00
Department of International Law (DIL) – Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $3,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – Training Seminars in Colombia / $30,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $194,086.00 / $33,000.00
2008 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Projects in Haiti / $60,000.00
Inter-American Commission on Women (CIM) – Course on Empowerment, HIV, and Violence against Women in the Caribbean / $23,000.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Office of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression / $15,000.00
Working Group to Prepare the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples / $12,385.00
Inter-American Commission Against Terrorism (CICTE) / $10,000.00
Department of International Affairs (DIA) – Lecture Series of the Americas / $5,000.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) / $62,212.00
Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM) / $10,000.00
SUBTOTAL / $197,597.00
2009 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression / $10,000.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Individual Cases in Haiti / $23,800.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) - Counternarcotics / $56,576.00
SUBTOTAL / $90,376.00
2010 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression / $8,073.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) / $18,837.00
Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) – General Activities / $51,808.00
Secretariat for Legal Affairs – Department of International Law - Professor, Course on International Law in Rio de Janeiro / $10,365.00
Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO)– OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti / $277,778.00
Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) – OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti – Second Round / $130,160.00
SUBTOTAL / $486,656.00 / $10,365.00
2011 / Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) – OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Haiti – Second Round / $138,888.89
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Strategic Plan 2011-2015 / $251,100.00
Secretariat for Multidimensional Security / Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission – Forfeited Assets Latin America / $40,869.00
SUBTOTAL / $430,857.89
2012 / Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions (DSDSM) – Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA) / $250,000.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Strategic Plan 2011-2015 / $20,951.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression / $10,475.08
Fund for OAS Electoral Observation Missions / $62,790.00
Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) – Exchange between Electoral Organizations Agreement Electoral Cooperation SG / Observatorio de America Latina y el Caribe (OPALC) / $2,958.00
SUBTOTAL / $351,736.19 / $2,958.00
2013 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression / $15,494.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) – Strategic Plan 2011-2015 / $30,988.00
Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) - 20th Anniversary Convention Belem do Para / $2,091.00
SUBTOTAL / $48,573.00
2014 / Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) – Fund for OAS Electoral Observation Missions (€150,000, Agreement signed April 21, 2014) / $200,565.00
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Rapporteurship on the Rights of Afro-Descendants and against Racial Discrimination, and activities related to abolition of the death penalty) / $24,691.36
SUBTOTAL / $225,256.36
2015 / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, activities related to abolition of the death penalty-20,000 euros) / $21,978.02
Inter-American Commission for Women (2,500 euros) / $2,686.125
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – Freedom of Expression 2015-2017 / $7,326.00
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – Program 1 – Direction in Law / $16,461.00
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – Program 4. Afro-descendants / $7,326.00
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 4. Deprived of Liberty / $7,326.00
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – Strengthening Freedom of Expression / $8,230.00
SUBTOTAL / $46,669.00
2016 / The Permanent Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission of Women CIM – Contributions to CIM / $2,660.00
The Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation – EOM 2014 Haiti / $150,000.00
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights IACHR – Freedom of Expression 2015-17 / $7,246.00
The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights IACHR – Program 2 – Individual Petition Syst. / $14,493.00
The Permanent Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission of Women CIM – Contributions to CIM / $3,260.00
SUBTOTAL / $177,658.00
TOTAL / $3,849,925.00 / $640,203.00

SOURCES:

FRANCE DIPLOMATIE - MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF FRANCE
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
http://www.afd.fr
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html / UNITED NATIONS
http://www.un.org
UNITED NATIONS, OFFICE OF COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
http://www.reliefweb.int/fts
AID HARMONIZATION AND ALIGNMENT
http://www.aidharmonization.org

This page was last updated on July 5, 2017.