Key Vocabulary – French Geography, Civics & EU

Ten vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms from the lecture notes on French territorial organization, European integration, and republican symbols.

Region (French administrative level)

An intermediate territorial unit between the State and departments, created by the 1982 decentralization laws and endowed with elected councils and broad planning powers.

Decentralization (1982 Laws)

Reforms that transferred significant competencies and budgets from the central government to local authorities—regions, departments and communes—in order to bring decision-making closer to citizens.

Metropole

A large urban center that concentrates population, economic activities and decision-making functions; Paris is both a national and global metropole.

PACA

Short for Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, a southeastern French region organized around the Marseille-Aix metropolis and known for tourism, high tech and Mediterranean identity.

DROM

Acronym for Départements et Régions d’Outre-Mer—Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Réunion and Mayotte—French overseas territories with both departmental and regional status.

Conseil régional

The elected regional council that votes the budget and designs policies in transport, economic development, education, environment and health.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

EU financial instrument that co-funds regional projects aimed at reducing disparities and promoting sustainable development within member states.

Agglomération parisienne

The Paris metropolitan area; France’s primate city where political power and high-level economic, cultural and transport functions are highly concentrated.

Mégalopole européenne

Densely urbanized corridor stretching roughly from London to Milan via Benelux and the Rhine; Europe’s main axis of population, wealth and decision-making.

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

The national motto of France, born during the 1789 Revolution, symbolizing freedom, equal application of the law and solidarity among citizens.