France has repeatedly failed to meet its European targets for renewable electricity consumption. The rapid development of agrofuels is primarily due to the weight and influence of the domestic agricultural sector. This does not mean, however, that European integration has had no influence on French policies to support renewable energy, but not necessarily on a hierarchical basis. In order to reflect the interaction between French and European policies, this article is part of an approach to political sociology that is mindful of the diversity of practices and ‘European uses’, exploring the vertical and horizontal dynamics of Europeanisation. France has repeatedly failed to reach its European objectives in terms of renewable electricity consumption. As for the growth of biofuels, it results from the weight and influence of the domestic agriculture sector. Yet, this does not mean that the European integration process has had no influence on French renewable energy policies, edible not necessarily in a top-down fashion. In order to account for the interactions between French and European policies, this paper Develops an approach centred on the practices and uses of Europe, and vertical and horizontal dynamics of Europeanisation.