Right, good point. France may be at the mercy of the EU but it's worth considering that France has a strong voice in the EU. Given the overall economic situation the EU is in, it is not too far of a stretch to see them welcome a new industry by doing what they do well: put in place a regulatory framework.
France, and the EU more generally, has skilled young people to fill in the jobs and a modern infrastructure already built. Plug and play for job creation.