Another ignorant question about France and the EU...

[SouthernDem2004]

I read an article about the no voters on the EU Constitution. Some feared "free market capitalism." What do they mean? Do countries in Europe still have tariffs imposed against each other? Does France not have free markets?

Sadly, I do not know that much about Europe's economics or politics. I was a little shocked that France, a founding member of the EU, rejected the Constitution.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. No, there aren't tariffs

though duty rates on things like alcohol, cigarettes and petroleum products vary (which means a retailer can't buy their stock in one country and import to another without paying the duty).

There is controversy about how much the current rules, or the constitution, would force privatisation of things like the phone network, or public utilities. Some of the left also think the constitution would prevent countries implementing their own laws about employment protection and other areas of labour laws.

The French left thought that the constitution was too generous to corporations. Ironically, the British right reject it because they claim it imposes too much regulation on corporations.