Robert Mugabe will be allowed to visit Paris next week for an African leaders' summit.
The EU has given the go-ahead despite its travel ban on the Zimbabwe president, his wife and more than 70 members of his political circle.
EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels renewed the ban for a year - but with a temporary "opt-out" for France so President Chirac can play host to Mr Mugabe at a Franco-African summit discussing human rights on February 19.
Britain's disapproval of the French action was marked by a formal reservation written into the accord expressing "grave concern" - a view echoed by Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden.
PA
