Europe

SNCF comes fifth in European ranking of best train companies

Eurostar did not fare quite so well

Photo: This Frenchman is sought by Europol over alleged €5m fraud

The Luxembourg-born ‘businessman and lawyer’ is now on Europol’s ‘most wanted fugitives’ list

SEE: How inflation in France compares with other EU countries

The eurozone has experienced rising prices for several years across many sectors

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‘Brexit: no-one else dares speak of leaving’: President Macron

The president also spoke of the threat from the far-right, the need for more border control, simpler rules and more defence investment in a speech in Paris

Facebook users duped over data, says French consumer association

It has now joined a Europe-wide investigation into Meta's practices

Former winner of TV’s The Voice to represent France at 2024 Eurovision

Discover the song he will perform at the contest here

See how France’s electricity prices compare with others in Europe

France’s price cap has meant rates have stayed low - although not the lowest

France aspires to take helm as leading European country in healthcare

Centres of excellence will work in partnership with universities

Has a start date been set for the EU's new digital border system?

The European Entry/Exit System will be a digital system for collecting data on non-EU citizens entering and leaving the Schengen area

French health insurance travel card: How it works and how to get one

We explain France’s carte européene d’assurance maladie and who is eligible for one

Deadline to enter draw for a free Europe rail pass is fast approaching

Do you know anyone who would be interested in applying?

Claims that senior UK ministers seeking Swiss-style EU ties denied

PM says he would block any move requiring the UK to align with EU laws

UK PM Liz Truss joins first meeting of new ‘club of European nations’

The European Political Community was first suggested by President Macron. It is hoped that Ms Truss’ participation will help improve UK-EU relations

French MP calls on local authorities to stop paying electricity bills

The head of the French communist party says drastic action is needed as towns struggle to pay for swimming pools, theatres, schools and other public facilities

Why road accident reduction in France is not entirely good news

Official figures published this week showed number of road accidents went down by nearly 20% between 2010 and 2019, but that European target was still way off

Fans celebrate France’s highest-ever score at Eurovision

Barbara Pravi’s performance saw the country come second overall, with its best result in 30 years, prompting fans - including President Macron - to celebrate the almost-victory

Official launch of group for ‘British Europeans’ in France

The group has formally launched as a French association and has attracted more than 1,800 people to its Facebook group

Covid: Will France have enough vaccines to meet its new targets?

The short answer seems to be yes as giant ‘vaccinodromes’ prepare to open and France anticipates doses from five major vaccine sources

AstraZeneca France: Vaccine pause ‘catastrophic’ say doctors

Leading doctors in France say the decision is political and could stoke distrust, even as health authorities say there is ‘no reason to be alarmed’ by the jab

How France’s Christmas compares to other European countries

Curfews in Italy and Spain, bubbles and tiers in the UK and just one festive guest allowed in Belgium

Covid: European Medicines Agency to approve jab by end 2020

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is considering data from seven major labs in a bid to approve the jab by end 2020 and start vaccination early 2021

How does France's lockdown compare in Europe?

We compare measures in the UK, France, Germany, and Italy

Britons in France face visas to study abroad in Europe

British students in France will have to apply for student visas and residency cards if they wish to study abroad in Europe

EU in €220m plan to transfer Covid patients between states

The plan is to ease pressure on overloaded hospitals, alongside other coordinated Covid efforts on inter-EU travel and future vaccines

France welcomes EU’s new coordinated Covid risk map

The map will be colour-coded by risk level from green to red, and will be updated by the EU each week

France will not accept Brexit deal 'at any price'

A future relationship Brexit deal is “still possible” and “desirable” but France will not accept “a deal at any price,” says the new French Europe Minister.

EU works to avoid border ‘chaos’ as Covid continues spread

EU countries are working to enact a coordinated approach to any possible border closure policy within the Schengen Area as Covid-19 continues to spread, in a bid to avoid mismatched rules and border “chaos”.

Macron: €750 billion EU Covid kickstart plan is ‘historic’

French President Emmanuel Macron has called the EU’s new €750 billion plan to kickstart the economy after the Covid-19 crisis “the most important moment for Europe since the creation of the euro”.

EU external borders now open to some countries, but not US

The European Union and Schengen Area have today (July 1) opened external borders to 15 countries, including Canada and Australia; but notably not the United States, Brazil, or Russia.

French group will ‘fight in court’ for Covid travel refunds

A French consumer association fighting for the public’s right to refunds on trips that were cancelled due to Covid-19 has said it is prepared to take the case to the country’s highest administrative court if necessary.

Flixbus coaches resume on June 18 in France

Coach travel company Flixbus is set to restart trips from June 18 in France.

UK-France travel June 15: Your options by air, train, ferry

General travel to France from other European countries, including the UK, is set to open up again on Monday, June 15. Connexion looks at what the travel options are between France and the UK from next week.

French-Italian border reopens in southeast France

Police controls at the border in Menton (Alpes-Maritimes, ‎Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) caused queues and frustration for drivers crossing over from Italy into France, with each country imposing different regulations for travellers.

Covid-19: France tourism boost as travel rules eased

Hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and gîtes across most of France will be allowed to reopen from June 2, when the 100km limit on travel is lifted

Dying French woman blocked from cure due to Covid-19

A French woman with a fatal brain tumour has been blocked from possibly life-saving, experimental treatment in the US after borders closed and confinement was imposed due to Covid-19.

EU will continue to grow despite Brexit

Nick Inman says populist arguments of impending EU implosion are not supported by the facts. In fact, it is likely to grow after President Macron suggested France may be willing to lift its opposition to the applications of Albania and North Macedonia

France considers EU plan to cut copper coins

Plans to phase out one and two cent coins across the eurozone are included in the European Commission's new work programme

Burger King has 'no plans' for veggie burger in France

Fast food giant Burger King has no plans to bring its newly-launched meat-free “Rebel” burger to France, and will instead focus on higher-end meat options for the time being, it has said.

Conference to explore EU's future and Britons' rights

Speakers from across Europe will explore the future of European democracy at a one-day conference in Toulouse this month – looking at Brexit impacts on Britons in France as well as the big picture for Europe in the world.

European MPs call for more night trains from France

Night trains across Europe, including to and from France, could become more common after an open letter from French and German MPs called for more services to reduce reliance on aeroplanes.

French cars can now be fined in Ireland and Sweden

Drivers with French licence plates on their vehicle now risk a fine at home if they are caught speeding in two more countries - Ireland and Sweden - in addition to the 18 other nations already on the list.

France approves controversial Canada trade deal

The French government has approved a controversial trade deal with Canada this week, amid intense debate and critics who say that the plan will allow unfair competition and cause ecological concerns.

Protect Britons’ rights, asks UK

Campaigners welcome Brexit Minister’s support

Green card plan gets boost with European award

Pro-EU group New Europeans which has championed a ‘European green card’ scheme to safeguard free movement rights post-Brexit is hoping for a boost after it received a prestigious European award.

Validity of ‘European’ British passports

My British passport is still valid for several years but it says European Union on the cover – will this cause problems after Brexit? D.W.

SNCF faces competition in France as Italy speeds in

Italian train firm Trenitalia could be competing with French company SNCF on high-speed lines including between Paris-Lyon and Paris-Bordeaux, by 2020, it has said.

French woman denied vote because she ‘was dead’

A French woman from the Lot-et-Garonne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) who tried to vote in person in the recent European elections was told she could not do so, because records showed she had died.

Unknown party beat everybody in one French commune

The Animalist Party enjoyed unexpected success in the European elections, picking up 450,000 votes nationally

Petition on European food labels seeks 1m signatures

A petition to make the “Nutri-Score” food labelling system mandatory across Europe is aiming to reach one million signatures after being launched by European national consumer associations this week.

Costs to call Europe drop today in new EU law

All phone calls within European countries are set to drop in price and be capped from today (Wednesday May 15), as a law limiting the cost has entered into force.

Usain Bolt's Paris e-scooter service launch stumbles

Court rules that Olympic champion cannot use his own name for new ride-share service

Paris mayor to allow 16-year-olds to vote in poll test

Anne Hidalgo is to allow a group of Parisians aged 16 and over to “vote” in the next European elections, as part of an experiment to test if the overall voting age could be reduced.

Less than third of French see Europe as ‘hopeful’

Less than one third of French people see Europe as something “hopeful”, with almost the same percentage calling it a “source of anxiety”, according to a poll ahead of this year’s European elections.

Bird welfare group files complaint against France

Bird welfare group La Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux is calling on France to remember its obligations towards birds, 40 years after a European Commission (EC) directive on the issue was first imposed.

EU vehicles could soon have accident ‘black boxes’

All new vehicles in the European Union could soon be equipped with “black boxes” that record journey data that could be used in the event of an accident, in the same style as aeroplane flight recorders.

Europe votes to end daylight savings clock changes

The European Parliament has approved plans to end seasonal daylight savings hour changes across the EU by 2021.

Crossborder populism causing EU more grief than the UK

Emmanuel Macron, as we know, expects to be the unofficial leader of Europe once Angela Merkel retires as Chancellor of Germany.

Macron calls for ‘European renaissance’ in open letter

President Emmanuel Macron has written an open letter entitled “A European renaissance”, in which he has called for a “more united Europe” over the issues of protection, freedom, and progress.

French border ‘Brexit strike’ causes huge lorry queues

French Eurotunnel and ferry customs officers who mounted an “unlimited strike” by enforcing strict border controls - to mimic what may happen after Brexit - have caused tens of kilometres of traffic jams.

France must stop LBD use during protests, Europe says

France should review and stop its use of “ lanceurs de balles de défense (LBD)” rubber bullet guns as soon as possible, the Council of Europe human rights commissioner has said.

Super Blood Moon eclipse visible in France this Sunday

A total “Super Blood Moon” eclipse will be visible to the naked eye from across Europe on the night of Sunday 20 January, as the Moon crosses the shadow of the Earth.

McDonald’s ‘Big Mac’ trademark cancelled in EU

McDonald’s has had its famous “Big Mac” trademark cancelled across the European Union, after a successful challenge from small Irish burger chain, Supermac.

Macron promises ‘letter to France’ in New Year speech

French President Emmanuel Macron has addressed the ongoing unrest in the country in his New Year wishes speech, with a promised follow up “letter to the French people” expected in the next few days.

EU MEPs vote against plastic is ‘huge step forward’

The European Parliament has successfully voted in a directive that will ban the use of single-use plastic by 2021, in a move that has been dubbed “an absolutely enormous step forward”.

Europe’s petrol pump labels to change in new EU rules

Fuel labelling in petrol stations across Europe is to change this month (October 2018) in line with European Union rules to standardise pumps in the EU zone.

Europeans in favour of dropping daylight clock change

Over 80% of Europeans are in favour of abandoning daylight saving changes and keeping the clocks in “summer time” all year round, a new poll has found.

Decision is due soon on Brexit challenge

British barrister Jolyon Maugham is expecting imminently a decision from the appeal court in Edinburgh regarding his case seeking a referral to the European Court of Justice about whether the UK can cancel Brexit unilaterally.

Chinese lab errors could cause cancer in Europeans

Errors made by a Chinese laboratory when making a medication that is sold in Europe could have cancer-causing consequences, a European medicine agency has warned.

Optimism in ‘invalid Brexit talks’ case

Second World War veteran Harry Shindler, 97, pictured , and his lawyer Julien Fouchet, expect a judgement on their case about the validity of the EU Brexit talks in the next few months.

Europeans living in UK at lowest level in four years

The number of European citizens living permanently in the UK is at its lowest level in four years, with Brexit suggested as one of the reasons for the change.

French fishmongers fined for not using Latin labels

Fishmongers in Marseille have been fined up to €1,500 each for failing to mention the precise Latin names of their fish on their market stall labels.

Free movement rights in Schengen Zone after Brexit

What will happen after Brexit to my EU right to move freely in the Schengen Zone? A.L.

Help build EU’s future

La Grande Marche pour l’Europe campaign

Brexit updates - May 2018

The latest news

Campaign aims to find out views of French on EU

A nationwide campaign is under way to find out what the French think of the EU