Diplomatic French: UN, EU, International Treaties

Diplomatic French

French as the Language of Diplomacy

The French language occupies a central position in international diplomacy:

• One of the 6 official languages of the UN (alongside English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Russian)
• One of the 3 working languages of the UN (French + English + Spanish)
• Official language of the EU (in reality, English dominates, but French is important in legal texts)
• Diplomatic tradition: until the 20th century, French was the language of European diplomacy (Congress of Vienna 1815)

UN and International Organizations Vocabulary

Diplomatic Formulas

Official salutations:

• Son Excellence Monsieur / Madame [fonction] — His/Her Excellency [position]
• Monsieur le Premier Ministre / Madame la Présidente — Mr. Prime Minister... / Madam President...
• Monsieur l'Ambassadeur — Mr. Ambassador

In speeches and communiqués:

• Les parties contractantes ont convenu de ce qui suit: — The contracting parties have agreed upon the following:
• Le présent accord entre en vigueur à la date de sa signature. — This agreement enters into force on the date of its signature.
• En foi de quoi les soussignés ont apposé leurs signatures. — In witness whereof, the undersigned have affixed their signatures.

In negotiations:

• Nous prenons note de votre position. — We take note of your position.
• Sans préjudice de... — Without prejudice to...
• Sous toutes réserves — Subject to reservations, without undertaking commitments
• Ad referendum — For further agreement

EU and Euro-bureaucracy Language

• la Commission européenne — European Commission
• le Conseil de l'Union européenne — Council of the EU
• le Parlement européen — European Parliament
• une directive — directive (mandatory for implementation, but through national law)
• un règlement — regulation (direct effect, no implementation required)
• une recommandation — recommendation (not mandatory)
• la subsidiarité — subsidiarity (principle of allocation of powers)