France in quest of a European narrative

Abstract:

For a long time France’s political leaders have justified France’s participation in European integration by presenting Europe as a condition to protect national power. The idea of 'powerful Europe' seems increasingly ill adapted to the position France occupies in the European Union. However although erosion is slow, national political leaders are proving incapable of drawing up an alternative national narrative for both cultural and institutional reasons. To the anti-European credo of a triumphant Front National in the European elections of May 2014 we might add diffuse euroscepticism amongst the government parties.

EurActiv, 18.03.15: National Front undermines French influence in Brussels http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/national-front-undermines-french-influence-brussels-312972

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