To date, 81 interparliamentary friendship groups have been set up, keeping the Senate in contact with political and parliamentary institutions from 190 different countries. 21 of them are dedicated to a regional area whilst the other 60 have a single-country approach. These senatorial friendship groups are a privileged means of bilateral cooperation between Parliaments and have come to play a key role in parliamentary diplomacy.
Missions abroad and information reports
The missions abroad aim at acquiring a better understanding of concrete situations that the countries visited are facing. Such visits can also serve as a means of extending France’s influence abroad, notably in business, trade and cultural matters. The interparliamentary groups also contribute to initiating or driving projects related to decentralised cooperation. For over two decades, numerous friendship groups have seized opportunities to publish valuable reports, which are available online.
International economic meetings
Moreover, in addition to these traditional activities, new initiatives are being developed with the support of the International Relations Department to provide valuable insights on business and economic matters to senators, experts and the public. In that regard, economic gatherings are frequently held with the partnership of the Business France (former UbiFrance).
These highly practical meetings are designed to enhance the understanding of certain foreign countries’ business models and economic situations; also and most importantly, such events serve to highlight the opportunities these markets represent for French companies. These meetings host a numerous public made up of parliamentarians, heads of local authorities, foreign political figures and entrepreneurs. Fruitful contacts may subsequently be established between representatives of the French exporting businesses and foreign authorities.
Enhancement of a field of expertise
In a parallel move, the interparliamentary groups, with the support of the International Relations and Protocol Department, have increased their partnerships so as to develop the Senate’s capacity in international relations. Bodies concerned by this policy of partnerships include the International Studies and Research Center (CERI), which is part of the Institute of Political Science in Paris, and the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), among others.