I'm not really sure that any of us (Ameri/Canadians especially) are really able to make an accurate judgment on what the French rationale is here; i don't believe there isn't a single (frequent) poster on this board who hails from anywhere in continental Europe. It would be nice if there was one so we could get their perspective on this.
At any rate, I feel that if 70% of the French wanted it to happen, then they obviously thought it was a good idea. It doesn't matter what WE think about the situation; none of us can do a damn thing about it (except repeat the same old bigoted jokes about France, of course).
If the French turn out to be wrong, well, then they'll probably learn a painful lesson as a result.