French remains the primary language of reference, after English, in diplomatic exchange and international organizations. A working and official language in bodies such as the UN, UNESCO, NATO, the OECD, the European Union, FIFA, the Olympics and the Red Cross, French is also the language of diplomacy. A significant example is that French is the only diplomatic language inside the Vatican.
The French language is often associated with elegance and distinction. It is the language of gastronomy, haute couture and the arts in general. Historically, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, French was the primary language in the royal and aristocratic courts, spoken by the czars of Russia, royalty in Spain and England and the princes of Germany.
French is the official or co-official language in nearly 30 countries on every continent. Along with Spanish, French is the foreign language most studied in the world after English. It is significant that the French language dominates technical fields such as aeronautics, automobile, energy, electronics and law.