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France is divided into 26 'regions' or 'régions' (in French), of which 21 are in continental metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, and four lie overseas. ''Régions'' in mainland France are further subdivided in between 1 and 8 ''départements''.

Contents

General characteristics

Role

History

Regions

See also

External links

General characteristics

In metropolitan France (excluding Corsica), the median land area of a ''région'' is 25,809 km² (9,965 sq. miles), which is about one-fifth of the median land area of a U.S. state, and only 4% as large as the median land area of a Canadian province, but 15% larger than the median land area of a German state, and 67% larger than the median land area of a region of England.
In 2004, the median population of a ''région'' in continental France was 2,329,000 inhabitants, which is a little less than one-half of the median population of a region of England, a little more than one-half of the median population of a U.S. state, and three-quarter of the median population of a German state, but more than twice the median population of a Canadian province.
A median ''région'' of continental France is made up of four ''départements''.

Role

''Régions'' do not have legislative autonomy, nor can they issue regulations. They levy their own distinct taxes (and receive a decreasing part of their budget from the national government which gives them a portion of the taxes it levies) and have sizeable, though not considerable, budgets, managed by a conseil régional (regional council) with nominated representantives from the departmental assemblies and major municipalities in the region.
Their main legal attribution is to build and pay equipment costs for lycées; in March 2004, the French national government announced a controversial plan to transfer to the ''régions'' some categories of non-teaching school personnel. Critics of this plan contend that it is doubtful that sufficient fiscal resources for these additional charges will be transferred, and that such measures will increase inequalities between ''régions''.
Apart from these legal attributions, regions have considerable discretionary spending for infrastructure (education, public transportation systems, aid to universities and research, support for entrepreneurs). Because of this, being president of a wealthy region such as Île-de-France or Rhône-Alpes may be quite a high profile position.
There are, from time to time, discussions about giving limited legislative autonomy to the ''régions'', but such proposals are controversial. There are also proposals to suppress the local government of the ''départements'' and transfer them into their respective ''régions'', leaving the ''départements'' with very limited authority.

History

Regions

See also

★ Regional councils of France

★ Administrative divisions of France

★ Ranked list of French regions

★ French regional elections, 2004

★ Subdivisions of France

★ Flags of French regions

External links

★ Local websites by region

★ Maps of France

★ Comprehensive Information on Pays-de-la-Loire