I thought I wrote "most"...
You seem to have a problem with Marseille ATC on a particular descent.
As far as I'm concerned, in Brest, I say as much as possible :
" Descend FL xxx, be leveled by (or abeam if a direct has been given), start at discretion".
Usually, let's say often, pilots start late and take around 3000'/min or even more. Not far from 10000 ft in 3 min.
Would it help if the controler told you, at first contact "..., expect FL xxx by XXXXX, report for lower " ? (That's what I do. Do you think it helps?)
In this case, you would wait for the clearance and tell the controler that if he doesn't give you the clearance soon, you will be unable.
So he can give you the clearance on time for your machine (which seems to be diferent from the traffic this controler had that day) or find another solution with the following sector...
(which shouldn't occur, as you called back for lower in time...)