The paper examines the influence of the ongoing process of European integration on the French executive in the context of divided government. It analyses in particular how European policy-making is organised by the President and the opposing Prime minister. Cohabitation is generally characterised as a highly conflictual domestic structure. Nevertheless in the field of European policy-making a homogeneous French position is generally formulated in order to negotiate successfully on the European level. The paper argues that consensus in the context of divided government can be explained by the disciplining force of various formal and informal veto possibilities possessed by the principal actors. In order to further explain mechanisms of co-operation and consensus-building the paper conceptualises the cohabitation game theoretically. Here the French voters are integrated. Finally, the paper discusses how a growing importance of European policy-making might influence traditional decision-making patterns during divided government for example by bringing about a shift towards a more consensual model of democracy.
