This paper asks about the Future of the French social model, highlighting the recent economic and social transformations affecting the French welfare state. Two forces, conflicting but not always exclusive, are presented: economic efficiency based on market principle and social protection based on solidarity. Fiercer international competition and closer European integration, together with the financial difficulties caused by the persistent high levels of unemployment, put high pressure on the traditional social models in France and other European countries, and lead them to rely more and more on the economic principle. The evolution of the French system so far suggests the balance of the two forces. Indeed, numerous neo-liberalist economic reforms co-evolved with important new social policies represented especially by the introduction of RMI, CSG and 35 working hours. The social solidarity remain unmitigated and even reinforced in the face of increasing economic difficulties and uncertainties. The balance, however, will be very temporary. Making the room for social policy at national smaller, further European integration will lead to pursue social solidarity at European level and match Economic and Monetary Union with 'Social Europe'.