‘If you’re not in the internal market, you don’t get the same protection,’ says French minister of policy designed to curb Chinese competition

One key EU proposal is the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), which would require authorities spending public money – awarding subsidies or public contracts – to favour European products in sectors such as renewable technologies and electric cars…

…“European taxpayers’ money should support [European] workers and European factories,” the French industry minister, Sébastien Martin, told reporters.

Fair enough I guess. If the UK wants the benefits of being part of a big European club then I guess we need to sign up to that club. Maybe Brexit was a mistake.

  • jobbies@lemmy.zipEnglish
    181·
    4 days ago

    I agree, but technically we are still a European country. We left the union, not the continent.

      • jobbies@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        An island that is part of Europe (the continent). We’re European whether you like that or not.

    • MouldyCat@feddit.ukEnglish
      3·
      4 days ago

      While I am irked somewhat when people conflate the EU and Europe, calling a EU-only policy a “Made in Europe” policy would still be technically correct. For example, if I told people I personally only bought products made in Europe, but in fact I only bought products made in Guernsey, my first statement would still be accurate.

      If the EU ever grows to include Canada or Japan however, it would then no longer be possible to make such statements.

      • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        Point is that you shouldn’t be excluding countries from joining a “made in Europe” certification scheme when they are, in fact, making products in Europe. If you want the scheme specifically to be highlighting and promoting products made in the EU, it should be a “made in the EU” scheme.

      • Barley_Man@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        Well you could have made in EU but not made in Europe. For example you can buy products made in French Guiana which would be EU but not Europe. Also Cyprus is in Asia according to how some people draw the lines of the continents. Then we have the Spanish part of North Africa and arguably the Canary islands as well.

    • Akh@lemmy.worldEnglish
      410·
      4 days ago

      I dunno, you guys are looking more and more like an American colony than a. European country. How is your healthcare and food going ?

      • jobbies@lemmy.zipEnglish
        13·
        4 days ago

        Well I had a delicious curry for tea and it didnt get recalled or give me diahorrea. And I picked up my prescription - 5 items and I didnt pay a penny.

        I don’t care what anyone says I’ll be European til I die.

      • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        The UK has always been more like the USA than many European countries are. It’s unsurprising if you consider the history. Britain has a strong history of liberalism, individualism and capitalism, more so I think than its European neighbours. That spread to/cross-pollinated with those factors in the USA.

        It would be wrong to see Britain as a colony of the USA rather than a country which is influenced by it for good and bad.