Original Article The Europeanisation of French regions

Abstract Since the mid-1980s, European policies have been identified as a key variable in the empowerment of regions. This ongoing process challenges centre– periphery relations in France. Are we, therefore, witnessing a Europeanisation of French regions? I first analyse the process of regionalisation in France and the role played by the regions in the institutional architecture of French decentralisa-tion. This historical idiosyncrasy explains the current structural handicap of the French regions in terms of political capacity. Second, I argue that the implement-ation of European Union policies produced changes in French centre–periphery relationships. I explore three dimensions of Europeanisation in the case of France: (1) the adaptation of regional development policies; (2) the development of new networks of regional paradiplomacy; and (3) the evolution of the constitutional and institutional structures