Why did France, with its strong sense of national identity, want to give up the Franc for the Euro? This book, by a former British diplomat in Paris, draws on new archive evidence to explore France's drive for European Economic and Monetary Union, and how unresolved Franco-German tensions over its design led to crisis.

Caton's book might be seen as a testament to a disturbing gulf between academic EU studies and diplomacy. This book has obvious added value for scholars and students of European integration, and specifically the move to and operation of EMU and French policy on EMU. (David Howarth, Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 54 (5), 2016)

'Caton gives a brisk and clear chronological summary of the decades of position papers, election campaigns, summits and high-level committees. She goes beyond her French focus to describe the infighting between the German Bundesbank and the country's more European-minded politicians.' Edward Hadas, Reuters Breakingviews blog

Autorentext

Dr. Valerie Caton's career in the British Diplomatic Service included overseas postings to Brussels, Stockholm, Paris and as Ambassador to Finland. Twice a Senior Associate Member at St. Antony's College, Oxford, she is currently Visiting Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading, UK.

Inhalt
Preface PART I: 1970-1991 Engaging Germany, Modernising France The Drive For A European Treaty On Economic And Monetary Union (EMU) 1. Introduction: Why did France want EMU? 2. 1984-88: How the EMU Treaty Project Took Shape 3. 1988-90: German Unity and European Union 4. 1991: The Maastricht Negotiations 5. The EMU Deal: French Ambition; German Design? PART II: 1992-2014 Putting The Treaty Deal Into Practice French Political Management Of Emu 6. 1992-96: The Years of Turmoil and Disarray 7. 1996 - 99: Recovery and Launch of a Wide Eurozone 8. 1999-2007: French Competitiveness and European Reform 9. 2007-12: The Crisis Years 10. Conclusions and Future Policy Challenges Acronyms and Abbreviations Select Bibliography and Further Reading