Le projet de nouveau (mini-) traité européen jetterait aux orties le concept de "libre-concurrence sans distorsions" pour lui préférer l'objectif orwellien d'une "économie de marché sociale visant le plein-emploi":
"Fears are growing that Europe could drop its 50-year commitment to a level playing field for business in a new treaty to reform the European Union.Aux dernières nouvelles, l'économie de marché l'aurait échappé belle (ou presque) :
A reference to "free and undistorted competition" was pulled from the draft after French pressure late on Thursday.
The new text talks of a "social market economy aiming at full employment".
If approved, the treaty could undermine the European Commission's efforts to break up monopolies in the name of consumer protection."
As EU leaders discussed a draft outline, it emerged Nicolas Sarkozy got the words "free and undistorted competition" struck from the preamble. This led to predictions France may use the treaty to justify state support.
However, sources in Brussels say a legally binding protocol will be added that protects existing competition law. With Mr Sarkozy's change also remaining in place, he will be able to tell the French voters he has defended French jobs.
