As a founding member of the European Community, France has a deep and long standing commitment to the European Union - with a particularly special connection to the European Parliament.

There is a long standing relationship between the European Parliament and the Presidents of the French Rebpublic. Six of the eight presidents of the Fifth Republic - excluding de Gaulle and Pompidou - have visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg, thus displaying solidarity with the parliament and demonstrating their commitment to the European project.