France, EU exemplar, responsive world citizen, Gaea friendly, une nation qui rayonne dans le monde, ah, France -- she lectures all -- and heeds none.

EU TO SLAP HEAVY FINES ON FRANCE OVER WATER NITRATE LEVELS

BRUSSELS March 21, 2007 (AFP) - The European Commission affirmed Wednesday that it would seek heavy fines against France for failing to cut nitrate levels in regional waters, after it has examined new proposals to remedy the problem.

The EU's executive body said it would ask Europe's top court to fine France 28 million euros (37 million dollars) plus a sum of 117,882 euros each day that it fails to comply with an EU regulation 20 years old.

The Commission maintains that nitrate levels are too high in 11 rivers in the northwest French region of Brittany. These rivers are catchment areas for drinking water, after treatment.

It's not easy being the greatest country on the planet.

PFFT (What is this?): Don't drink the water 4 | Rayonnement français 0