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France played a large part in pushing the idea of European public development aid. Its initiator role was largely due to its colonial past. France’s close relations with its former colonies contributed to European institutions’ developing their own stance on the subject of aid. While France justified its autonomy with regard to public development aid for a long time, it has had to adapt its methods to European Union directives. Very often, this leads to internal opposition toward France’s integration in European development aid matters.