France's Permanent Representation to the EU
France's Permanent Representation to the European Union is the diplomatic mission that represents France in the EU institutions in Brussels. It is headed by France's ambassador to the EU, who serves as the government's chief negotiator in the Council of the EU and other Union bodies. The mission is responsible for coordinating the French government's positions on European policy matters, including sanctions, the budget, trade, and external affairs. It is one of the largest such missions among EU member states, reflecting France's weight in European affairs.
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France backs Slovakia's push to remove Russian oligarch Usmanov from EU sanctions list
France is pushing to remove Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov from the EU personal sanctions list, aligning with a longstanding Slovak demand. The move has caused dissatisfaction among other EU members and comes as ambassadors failed to agree on extending the sanctions regime before a September 15 deadline.