One final confirmation that the French are involved :-)
This from ICAO in Montreal:
.................... VOLMET is a defined abbreviation "Meteorological information for aircraft in flight" and the origin is from the French "vol" (flight) and "MET" as an abbreviation for meteorology. VOLMET is a broadcast, or data link service, of meteorological information for aircraft in flight and is provided for in Annex 3 but subject to Regional Air Navigation Agreements. In the Americas there is no current requirement for VOLMET broadcasts identified in the Regional Navigation Plans, hence no such service is provided internationally.
ex-egll