Ministry of Economics and Finance (France)
The Ministry of Economics, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, informally referred to as Bercy, is one of the most important ministries in the Government of France. Its minister is one of the most prominent cabinet members after the prime minister. The name of the ministry has changed over time; it has included the terms "economics", "industry", "finance" and "employment" throughout its history.
Responsibilities
The Minister of Economics and Finance oversees:- the drafting of laws on taxation by exercising direct authority over the Tax Policy Board of the General Directorate of Public Finances, formerly the Department of Revenue ;
- national funds and financial and economic system, especially with the Office of the Treasurer and Receiver General, not to be confused with the Public Treasury, that is the Office of the Comptroller-General ;
- the development, regulation and control of economics including industry, tourism, small business, competition, and consumer security, and other matters excluding energy, industrial security, environmental affairs and transportations which are under the authority of the Ministry of Ecology;
- employment policies and career education.
Location
The Ministry of the Economy and Finance building is situated in Bercy, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. The building it shares with the Ministry of Public Action and Accounts extends to the Seine, where there is a wharf with fast river boats for faster liaisons to other government agencies. It is also served by Paris Métro lines 6 and 14 at Bercy station.The 5-hectare complex is made of five buildings: Sully and Turgot buildings, the Necker building, the Vauban building, and the Colbert building. The Colbert building contains two 70-meter long arches weighting 8000 tons each. It is the only administrative building in Paris to have been built at a perpendicular angle against the Seine, and the only one that has part of its foundations in the Seine's water.
The saying "the Bercy Fortress" refers to the ministry as a dark department with obscure civil servants, especially of high rank. This is emphasised by the impressive look of the building.
During the Grands Projets of François Mitterrand, it was decided that the Ministry of Finance would leave the Louvre's Richelieu wing where it had been located for 110 years. Forty other offices of the Ministry spread around the capital would be reunited in the new building.
After an architectural contest, Paul Chemetov and Borja Huidobro were selected in December 1982 to design the Colbert, Necker and Vauban buildings. Louis Arretche and Roman Karasinski were selected in July 1983 to design the Tugot and Sully buildings.
Construction started in 1984. In 1989, the Ministry's employees left the Louvre to move into the new building. Pierre Bérégovoy was the first finance minister to work in the new building.