eurealist.co.uk

No only Joking!
Italy appeals to EU over merger and argues that Europe is dead

The French merger of Suez SA and Gaz de France is said to be causing consternation in Italy. An editorial in the WSJ argues that the French “head-on challenge to the single market calls into question the raison d’etre behind the European Union far more than the constitutional crisis of last year did.” Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini “What has happened in Paris risks dealing a blow to the European spirit of the single market.”

However In France they have a different perspective:

It was an act of “economic patriotism” (Dominique de Villepin)

Economic patriotism is not the same thing as protectionism (Clara Gaymard from Invest in France)

“everything which strengthens French industry strengthens the whole of Europe.” (French foreign ministry) Good one that, I wonder if it would work should our Tone be tempted to try it?