BRUSSELS | By Alexandre Mato | “I’m French, I’m deeply French, I will remain French”, the former finance Minister said before EU legislators, eliciting uproarious laughs from those present, a remark which was followed by a declaration of independence “but here I will stand as a European Commissioner”. There is much at stake, and Pierre Moscovici was attempting to reassure Europe that his was a brief to ensure growth in an economy that can scarcely afford the spending required to do so.