Economic nationalism bad for Europe, says Barroso

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has urged a "sense of political responsibility on the part of our statesmen" and warned against rising nationalist rhetoric, speaking in reaction to a new wave of protectionism in major EU states.

The most recent case involves a row between Italy and France, following the merger of two French energy firms, Suez and Gaz de France, in a bid to prevent a takeover of Suez by Italian Enel.

A similar attempt was earlier made by Spain t...