This is not because it has become such a glittering symbol of European integration. Far from it. The move is designed to give France’s state railway company SNCF control of Eurostar and prevent its German rival, Deutsche Bahn, from securing a competitive foothold in the Channel Tunnel rail operator. The Germans had been considering buying out LCR, the British partner in the Eurostar consortium, in what the SNCF took as a declaration of war against the French company ahead of the liberalisation of European international passenger rail services in December this year.

After intense French lobbying, the Eurostar consortium will be turned into a European company with SNCF holding a 55 per cent controlling stake. LCR will own 40 per cent and the Belgian railways 5 per cent. The French have also taken out an additional insurance policy against the Germans by securing pre-emptive rights to buy out the British or Belgian partner should they decide to sell.