Now that all the cards are on the table, if France is allowed to violate the treaty, no one would comply and the Euro currency would be doomed.

FORBES: What Is Going To Happen To Europe?

Thus, trying to fix software patents might cause us to violate our international treaty obligations.

FORBES: Two Challenges to Fixing Software Patents (Part 2 of 3)

Presumably they've checked with the lawyers to make sure that this does not violate the Maastricht Treaty, which forbids governments from using the central bank to finance any of their deficits.

BBC: Why the Bank held off spending