France

Officially the French republic is a founding member of the European Union (25 March 1957) and the United Nations, where it serves as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. It is a member of numerous international institutions, including the Group of 7, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and La Francophonie. Also part of the Eurozone and Schengen Area.
Independence to French Algeria was granted in 1962, which had been an integral part of France since 1830 and hence of the then European Communities, was the only such occasion on which a territory subject to the Treaty of Rome has become an independent state.

In 2005 France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Spain referendums were held on the Constitution of Europe. The Constitution was rejected by the Netherlands (No by 62%. 63% turnout.) and France.(No by 55%. 69% turnout.) Resulting in the Treaty being unratified. The intention of the treaty was to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union (EU). It would have replaced the existing European Union treaties with a single text, given legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and expanded Qualified Majority Voting into policy areas which had previously been decided by unanimity among member states.

Currency: Euro since 1 January 1999 (formerly French franc, FRF)

Population: 66Million