Complex sentence: It has the second largest economy in Europe (behind its main economic partner Germany) in nominal figures and recession of the late 2000s later and left it earlier than most comparable economies, only enduring four quarters of contraction.
Split into simpler sentences: It has the second largest economy in Europe (behind its main economic partner Germany) in nominal figures. France's economy entered the recession of the late 2000s later and left it earlier than most comparable economies, only enduring four quarters of contraction.