My (much-maligned on this site) employer has clearly stated minimum visibility and maximum crosswind values for FO's takeoff and landings and in the case of landings, for both precision and non precision approaches. It's clear cut: if the visibility is less or the crosswind component is greater than these clearly stated values, the captain is required to fly the approach.
I've always believed that many if not most so-called 'first order' airlines have similar clauses in the SOPs, including Air France - (if not before this accident, then certainly after it).