A comparative evaluation program of the national cultural policies of European countries was proposed by the Council of Europe in 1985 with a view toward enhanced cooperative action in European cultural policies. These national reviews are comprised of four stages: (1) the preparation of a report by each country with regards to creation, decentralization, and diversification of the target populations; (2) an examination of that survey by an international panel of experts; (3) a meeting of that panel and the chief official responsible for culture; and (4) a dissemination of those findings. This document includes excerpts from a French report which begins with the cultural policies of the Fifth Republic (1966-1970) and includes discussion of the objectives of French cultural policy, how that policy is planned, the role of the Ministry of Culture, Parliament, an assessment of the effectiveness of those policy measures, and the comments by the panel of experts. A news section on recent meetings in Europe on cultural issues follows. (PPB)