France on trial? The challenge of change and the French presidency of the European Union, July‐December 2000

Between 1 July and 31 December 2000, France chaired the Council machinery of the European Union (EU). This presidency was the 11th occasion since 1957 that France fulfilled the function, but was the first time that the French authorities attracted such sustained criticism for their performance. Indeed, in the aftermath of the Nice summit which concluded the presidency, France effectively found itself on trial for its handling of the presidency in particular, and for its political leaders' stance towards European integration in general. A tone of defensiveness on the part of the French leadership also characterised the presidency from start to finish, and beyond. This article reviews the French and EU agendas and examines the charges brought against France. It analyses the main arguments forw arded in its defence, and considers the possible mitigating circumstances—domestic and EU-wide—which may have toughened the challenge that the rotating presidency poses to any EU member state. It delivers its verdict on the presidency, and assesses the sentence it imposes henceforth on French political leaders seeking to redefine France's role in the EU.