There is a pacte, he said, two thousand years old, between the greatness of France and the liberty of the world.

BBC: Part Three - France and the World

Known in France as the PACS (pacte civil de solidarite), the civil union agreement can be entered into by gay or straight couples and confers many but not all of the rights of marriage.

CNN: French lawmakers approve same-sex marriage bill

Known in France as the PACS, or pacte civil de solidarite, the civil union agreement can be entered into by same-sex or straight couples and confers many but not all of the rights of marriage.

CNN: French lawmakers approve same-sex marriage bill