France Information

France

France is the largest country in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; France borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, it is west of Italy and north of Spain.

Dedicated on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, was an appreciated gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.

Economic Overview from the CIA: France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly 50% of GDP in 2005). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit; unemployment stands at 10%.


Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. Its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.

France has 22 Regions, Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, and Rhone-Alpes.

France

Phone international country code 33

France Government
The French Republic
la République Française

France News

France from US Sources

France Regions and Cities

Alsace Region France

The capital and largest city is Strasbourg

City of Strasbourg France

Aquitaine Region France

The Capital is Bordeaux

Auvergne Region France

The Capital is Clermont-Ferrand

City of Avranches France
Ville de Avranches France

City of Clermont-Ferrand

City of Clermont-Ferrand

Basse-Normandie Region France

Caen is the Capital

City of Caen France
Mairie de Caen

Bourgogne Region France

Dijon is the Capital

City of Dijon
Ville de Dijon

Bretagne Region France

A large peninsula in northwest France, located south of the English Channel and North of the Bay of Biscay.
Rennes is the capital city.

Centre France

Orléans is the capital, although many would like to call this region Val de Loire

Champagne-Ardenne Region France

City of Châlons-en-Champagne is the capital.

Châlons-en-Champagne France

Franche-Comté France

City of Besançon is the Capital

City of Besançon France
Ville de Besançon

Haute-Normandie Region France

City of Rouen is the Capital

City of Rouen France

Ile-de-France Region France

The capital and Largest City is Paris

City of Versailles France

Located 17.1 km (10.6 miles) west-southwest from the center of Paris.

Languedoc-Roussillon Region France
Ville de Languedoc-Roussillon

City of Montpellier is the capital

City of Montpellier
Ville de Montpellier

Pays de la Loire France

Loosely "Land of the Loire River", the capital is Nantes

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Thank you for visiting France Information and France Business Information.
Merci de visiter l'information de la France et L'Information D'Affaires de la France.

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