Country Profile of FranceAn OverviewFrance, formally called the French Republic, played an important role in the history of Western Europe. It has been a constant powerhouse for centuries. It was one of the original countries of the European Union and has been a dominant factor in global trade. France has also been a leading force in the Common Market (CM), the European Economic Community (EEC), now called the European Union (EU), and is a permanent member of the United Nations. Historical context France was founded under a feudal system, first documented in 843 with the coronation of Charles the Bald; The first king of France. As the years passed, experiencing battles, wars and coups, France was consistently known as a great power in Europe. From 1161 to 1715, Louis XIV reigned over France. He was the longest-reigning king in French history (French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, 2011). The first Republic was founded in 1792. France was ahead of its time, formulating the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789. ; stating that men are free and equal at birth. France transitioned back and forth from monarchy to republic over the next few centuries, until today, where it is governed by its fifth republic. France suffered huge losses in World War I at the 1916 Battle of Verdun, where over 300,000 men were killed. killed. France also suffered during the Second World War, when in 1940 it was invaded by Germany and remained under its control for almost four years, when in 1944 Paris, the capital, was liberated and the Vichy government was overthrown. The European Economic Community (EEC) was established in 1957 with the Treaty of Rome, becoming the European Union (EU) in 1993, after the Treaty of Maastrica...... half of the document ......hurts universities public to students. France is a world leader in global markets. The economy is strong and ranks among the top ten in the world, according to its gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.66 trillion in 2009 (U.S. Department of State, 2010). France is the largest agricultural producer in Western Europe, producing 25% of the European Union's products. France is a major exporter (Economy Watch, 2009), one of the largest in the world, exporting machinery, aircraft parts, pharmaceutical projects and drinks. France ranks fifth in the world for imports (Economy Watch, 2009), importing goods such as machinery, crude oil, vehicles and chemicals. Although France manages to support its economy with imports and exports, tourism is an important factor in the calculation of its GDP, “with over 82 million tourists visiting the country” (Economy Watch, 2009).