Since the past two years, the European Union has initiated a ‘constitutionalisation’ process. It began during the Laeken European Council, and was continued by the reunion of a Convention and an inter-governmental conference, that ended in failure in Brussels in December 2003. During this whole period, France, which favoured this process, played a particular role. Though it was as present as any Member State, France has sometimes been influent, as it stood political and legal positions, which has allowed it to curb some of the choices made, on several occasions. Nevertheless, the circumstances have led France, for structural as well as conjectural reasons, to adopt a low profile, thus leading to a relative absence. – Summary AFRI-2004