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France is a charter member of the European Union, which grew out of the ashes of the second world war. France and Germany, bitter enemies that fought three wars against each other in the 75 year period ending in 1945, forged an economic pact in 1950. A year later, six Western European nations signed a treaty allying each’s coal and steel industries, and in 1958 the European Economic Community was born, renamed the European Union in 1992.

A founding member of the United Nations as well as NATO, France plays a central role within the 27 member strong European Union.

Most nations’ embassies and consular offices are located within Paris’ 7th, 8th and 16th arrondissements, on the Right Bank.