 | |
 France |  Liechtenstein |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of France, Bern | Embassy of Switzerland, Paris |
French–Liechtensteiner relations are thebilateral relations ofFrance andLiechtenstein, dating back to theNapoleonic wars. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 August 1992.[1] Since then, relations between the two countries have been stable.
France does not have anembassy in Liechtenstein. The French ambassador toSwitzerland, located inBern, is also accredited to Liechtenstein.[2] Similarly, the Swiss embassy inParis also represents Liechtenstein.
In theWar of the First Coalition, Liechtenstein, as part of theHoly Roman Empire, contributed approximately 20 troops to thecoalition forces from 1793 to 1796 to oppose the French under the leadership ofNapoleon I. During theWar of the Second Coalition, France invaded Liechtenstein on 6 March 1799 and plundered several towns, includingNendeln that was burned by French troops, which resulted in the deaths of four people. The Austrian and Volgraberg state militias under command byLieutenant field marshalFranjo Jelačić defeated 18,000 French troops stationed in Liechtenstein under command of GeneralAndré Masséna and liberated the country by 14 May.[3]
In 1806, Liechtenstein was one of the principalities and countiesMaximilian I of Bavaria wanted to annex as his price for joining theConfederation of the Rhine, but Napoleon refused because he had appreciated the personal qualities ofJohann I as a negotiator, Austria's envoy during the negotiations leading to theTreaty of Pressburg.[4] Thus Liechtenstein became a sovereign state later that year when it joined Napoleon'sConfederation of the Rhine upon the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.[5] The French once again occupied the country for a few years, but Liechtenstein regained its independence upon Napoleon's defeat in 1815.[6]
France sided with theEntente countries duringWorld War I.[7] Though Liechtenstein remained neutral throughout the conflict, it retained close ties toAustria-Hungary and was sympathetic to theCentral Powers.[8] At the outbreak of the war, France interned Liechtensteiners and partially confiscated their assets. From 1916, Liechtenstein was embargoed by the Entente countries until the end of the war.[9] Despite diplomatic efforts by Liechtenstein, they received no representation in the negotiations or singing of theTreaty of Versailles, though the country received indirect recognition of its sovereignty in theTreaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[8]
France voted not to admit Liechtenstein when it applied to join theLeague of Nations in 1920; theLeague of Nations Assembly rejected the motion by a vote of 28 against and 1 in favour, with only Switzerland in support.[10]
DuringWorld War II, Liechtenstein remained neutral, and its neutrality was not violated by any of the combatants.[9] France had been on the side of theAllies since 1939, but was invaded byNazi Germany the following year. Shortly after the war,Pierre Laval, the prime minister ofVichy France had attempted to seek refuge in Liechtenstein after being flown to theAmerican-occupied zone of Austria, but was turned away.[11][12]
France and Liechtenstein are both members of theEuropean Economic Area and theSchengen Area.[13][14] Liechtenstein-based companies, such asHilti andIvoclar employee approximately 2500 people from France. In 2013, Liechtenstein exports to France equated to approximately 305 millionSwiss francs.[2]
Following the2008 Liechtenstein tax affair, the two countries signed a tax information exchange agreement on 22 September 2009, which came into force on 19 August 2010.[2]
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