The most intriguing connection in this story is with the French paradox.

ECONOMIST: Abolishing ageing

At the same time, France's "subjective" interests cannot be overlooked -- especially when the French "post-colonial paradox" comes into play.

CNN: France: We're not the pacifists you think we are

Here is a great paradox: the big decision to press the button on creating the euro was a French attempt to shackle the economic and political power of a unifying Germany, but it has had the perverse consequence of reinforcing German power within the eurozone and the European Union.

BBC: The euro's survival 'requires political union'