Sparky,
International as in examining various national systems, not international as in one system for all places.
C-H,
I think I see what you mean about a block, or group, of fuses. They would certainly break all poles simultaneously when pulled out by hand, but I was thinking along the lines of all poles having to open simultaneously in the event of a fault. I can't see how that can be achieved except with a circuit breaker.
As for the differences between the French and German systems, I don't think there are that many. France seems to prefer keeping lights on separate circuits to receptacles instead of mixing them together, and the notes specify that they also limit the number of outlets to eight on each circuit.
