In economic crisis it is well that the French expect of it

Left, right and extreme right, French political parties engage the European election campaign in competing for the slogan of "the Europe that protects". In economic crisis, it is well that the French expect of it. More surprising and more sobering, is unanimous that seems to repeat spontaneously to make Brussels the scapegoat for our misfortunes, real or imagined. And each delight in the case of the composition of rosé wine, with a unanimous conclusion: "But why Europe deals of such peanuts instead to concentrate on the important"

Then is remembered, and in all the speeches, the famous European regulation on the manufacture of cheese with raw milk. Seventeen years after the wonderful tirade of Charles Pasqua is still shaking the low spirits. What! Brussels technocrats would argue learn our valiant producers how the vacherin is Mugissez cattle, ricanez jingles! What fly stung the Scratchings But simply... representatives of French producers. Because a poorly manufactured raw milk cheese can transmit the formidable Listeriosis. Entering this pretext, our European partners prohibited the importation of French cheeses. The only way to reassure them was to turn the French regulations on the manufacture of the cheese milk believed in European regulation. This was done, and that helped our farmers to expand their client base, to the satisfaction of producers, consumers, our trade balance... and allergic demagogues in Europe.

News reminds us that this health hazard is neither imaginary nor, unfortunately, limited to cheese: we learn today that several tens of Marseillais were intoxicated, whose two fatally, by ingestion of brave "figatelli" corses. After that will it that Brussels technocrats learn Corsican shepherds to the deli Not, but if they want to continue to export, it would need a lot that they produce a guarantee, say extra-insulaire...

Occurs on the decision on rosé wine. Tribute is paid to the "Southwest Sunday" weekly, for daring to explore the folder, instead of participating in the General rants. Who requested that Europe mingles with oenological practice But... the France, the first, the harmonization of the rules being desired by all producers. It is this harmonization which allows us to, among other things, retain the right to chaptaliser, we challenge the tough Italians and Spaniards. Is cutting between red wine and white synonymous with poor quality Certainly not, since it has always allowed for AOC wines, including, therefore, for champagne, as with the Provençal producers, but were the first to protest! Because cutting has nothing to do with quality: it had been prohibited at a time when European subsidies varied the color of the wine, which allowed a small malignant defraud by mixing the colours. Indeed, it has always been legally possible to assemble up the red and white grapes for all types of wines! As the Secretary General of the Spanish Federation of wine: "what right Brussels prohibit to table wines which is already allowed for wines of appellation d'origine contrôlée". Would they typically have more restrictive than the rules defend a privilege

The solution is obvious: a suitable labelling and a promotional campaign commercial for valuing quality wine. What was so successful for chocolate: ten years ago, the hexagon was moved, not by the intervention of "Brussels" to regulate the composition of the fat plant additional the French the asking, on the contrary, but by the opening of this new fat composition. The business was take the best advantage of the incident: never true black chocolate and quality chocolates to are all sold from.

Three conclusions are necessary.

The first: if it is clear that the European Union must deal with that important problems, this importance must be judged, not to the technical nature of the subject, but to the economic, social, health, environmental, possible consequences. When it comes to the functioning of the common market, the loyalty of the competition and even more so, of the safety of the consumer, apparently microscopic points can be decisive.

The second is the day where the major audiovisual media will have the courage of some of their regional colleagues to make their craft against the prevailing wind, the image of Europe will be transformed. And public debate there will gain much.

The third concerns the policies. Of Europe, some do that evoke the tails of cherry, because they want to forget the extraordinary achievements of the European Union, precisely on the major problems. In this unprecedented financial crisis, which has saved is that the France of an appalling monetary turmoil Membership in the euro area. But it's hard to admit when it voted against the Maastricht Treaty, or when used for the President of the Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, as institutional scapegoat. And who designed the energy/climate plan, which places Europe at the forefront of the global fight against climate change It is the European Commission, chaired by the other favourite scapegoat of the Hexagon, José Manuel Barroso, and not saint Nicolas Hulot. But Shhh! We are here crossing the line of political correctness.