It is striking how France tries to promote the European Union while not obeying its rules. It really does look as if the European Union is an effort by France and Germany to subvert the liberties of the rest of the world, starting with Europe. Complaints of American imperialism is one way to distract attention in Spain and Poland away from the imperialism that really does threaten them. I was just reading an August article that talked about French bailouts and protectionism, as well as mentioning the budget agreement violation that actually occurred this past month. The article is "Rescue Mission: Saving a Company, Paris Sets Pattern Of Flouting the EU; Bailout of Engineering Giant, Alstom, Eases Perils, Too, For Three French Banks; For Christmas, Queen Mary 2," John Carreyrou. Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Aug 19, 2003. pg. A.1.:

So France did what European Union rules are supposed to forbid. It bailed out Alstom with a generous package of state aid, undercutting the EU's attempt to keep a level playing field for all European companies. The bailout marks the third time in two years Paris has upset the EU by rescuing a French company. In 2001 and 2002, it lent 450 million euros to ailing computer maker Groupe Bull SA. Last fall, it extended a 9 billion euro credit line to France Telecom SA, which had racked up one of the world's biggest debt loads.

The trio of rescues is part of a broader pattern of flouting the EU's economic rules. For the second year in a row, France is on track to exceed the union's budget-deficit cap, which is meant to provide a stable economic environment for the euro. France has also resisted opening up its power market even as its state-owned power company, Electricite de France, has expanded across Europe through acquisitions.

...

"Not only do the French not seem to manage to adhere to the rules, but they don't even seem to try," says William Lelieveldt, a spokesman for Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm. Mr. Zalm has called on the EU to fine France.

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