Everything old is new again

"As discussed in chapter 8, developments since the 2000 EU summit in Nice demonstrate a growing desire on the part of powerful member states (France and Germany) to consider specific social objectives more fully in the application of competition policy—for example, by developing policies to bolster individual economic sectors rather than focusing narrowly on stricter competition policy. In effect, the French and German governments are challenging the position long defended by the Commission, that competition and social objectives are at least compatible, if not complementary."

Mitchell P. Smith, States of Liberalization: redefining the public sector in integrated europe (2005)

I have it on my bingo card for the revision of the procurement Directives that the pendulum will tilt in the direction mentioned above.