Is France compatible with the single market? -by Christophe-Alexandre Paillard

Of course. Consequently, this single market, with its multiple normative excesses, has never been free from criticism and reduce European construction to this single market, it was to lock it up in a strictly market and consumer vision, at the obvious limits, in the face of the return of powers, the migration difficulties, the urgency of industrial policy and a multitude of other themes all more france compatible single market? -by strategic than the others. Moreover. For example, the same Jacques Delors had recognized that it was difficult to make Europe dream through the sole construction of a large consumer market.

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Nuances. However. Moreover, a fact must be recalled: for a few months, France, whose executives have shared for half a century, with only nuances, European commitment, multiplies the signs of distrust of the single market. Nevertheless, These criticisms often go beyond the legitimate reproaches. fuel the concern of our partners, at the same time as they distill a slow poison in the minds of the French, even the most pro-European that this single market is harmful and must permanently be corrected by multiple developments.

Two examples illustrate it.

First example, the question of digital and artificial intelligence (AI). During the years of the first Von der Leyen commission. Paris pushed more than any other Member State so that the EU has regulation in terms of AI, using what the essential tool of the European market, the standard.

IA Act. However. barely two days after the adoption of regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 13, 2024 establishing harmonized rules concerning artificial intelligence or IA Act, fruit of work and hard and complex negotiations between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron declared that the adoption of such a norm was “not a good idea”.

france compatible single market? -by

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Most recently. in terms of online content regulating to protect minors, France, annoyed by the slowness of the European Commission, did not hesitate to threaten to advance alone on the subject, in return arousing the annoyance of many of its European partners.

However. France should, better than any other country, know that the single market has its operating rules, and that the EU has its own tempo, largely dictated by democratic considerations aimed at leaving parliament and the member states to decide after long negotiation processes.

Cassis. Second example, the protection of health through single market rules. Since a founding judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of 1979 called judgment “Cassis de Dijon”. the member states, had specified that france compatible single market? -by the fact that the populations of across the Rhine are not necessarily focused on the consumption of the Cassis of Dijon, could not be detrimental and could not defeat the free movement of this product within a single market.

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However, one of the psychodramas of the EU in recent months is perfectly part of the continuity of this case “Cassis de Dijon”. Member States are currently tearing themselves apart on the issue of tobacco substitutes. Countries like Sweden – famous for its fight in favor of SNUs. a wet tobacco powder consumed mainly in Scandinavia, in Baltic countries and Switzerland – are ahead with new devices.

Interdiction. Others, like Spain or France, are hostile to this process and this type of product. France has spoken out in favor of a total prohibition, whether sale, possession or import. Eight EU members of the EU attacked the system before the commission claimed to adopt France. Sweden thus considers that it contravenes article 34 of the treaty relating to obstacles to intra-European trade. In Spain, the national competition authority even calls into question the system adopted by royal decree.

In fact. if we can obviously discuss the arguments of each other, such a subject should by nature be discussed and decided by Europeans ensemblethrough single market systems, even if it means that the use of the directive leaves a national appreciation. France. prompt to over-transpiring, by pretending to get over the single market, does it not likely send a negative france compatible single market? -by message to its partners and difficult to understand for the French who believe in the reality of European cooperation on these subjects?

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Ultimately. these repeated attacks against the single market come while the Letta “much more than an April 2024 market report showed the extent of the incompleteness of this market and therefore its potential. What is certain. however, is that the single market remains the essential base of cooperation between EU member states; Unless we ultimately wishes to give reason to Brexiters who brought the United Kingdom out of the common market due to their permanent disagreements with the single market rules. The devil is still hiding in details!

Christophe-Alexandre Paillard. author (the new economic wars), senior official, former legal director of the CNIL, lecturer at Savoie Mont Blanc france compatible single market? -by University. The author speaks personally.