France's negative statement about European gas (4)
I believe the answer is:
neon
'gas' is the definition.
(neon is a gas)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for neon that I've seen before include "Gas used in fluorescent lighting" , "None like bright city light" , "It may illuminate" , "Brightly coloured advertising sign" , "Element that gives a red glow in a vacuum tube" .)