European union

Does France have a ‘golden visa’ scheme for gaining nationality?

As an EU Schengen Area country, France is affected by golden visas obtained elsewhere that allow non-EU people to work, live, and travel in Europe

UK-EU plan for easy work and study for under-30s: what is proposed?

Labour government reported to be open to a fresh look at the proposals as part of 'reset' of EU relationship

How did French in London, Brussels and Moscow vote in the EU election?

Which candidates were most popular with French people living abroad?

news

Macron orders dissolution of French parliament: reaction and what now?

‘A risk’, ‘a betrayal’, ‘the only solution’: Mixed reaction to president’s surprise decision

Far-right win French EU elections: how did your area of France vote?

President Macron announces snap election in response to defeat

‘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

New rules are killing off older cars unable to adapt in France

EU safety regulations include a range of high-end technological updates that older models may not be able to satisfy

PHOTOS: France’s 3 most wanted criminals still on the run

They are among 58 of Europe’s most dangerous fugitives

New cars in France must soon have camera to see if driver distracted

The rules come as part of an EU aim to reduce road deaths to zero by 2050

New European Entry/Exit System: 9 key things to know in advance

These digital EU border checks are set to come into force in 2024. Here is how they will work

France bans nitrates for pet food but only reduces them for people

How a pack of food for President Macron’s dog highlighted a curious discrepancy between pet and human food - and the latter’s links to colon cancer

Bourges is named European Capital of Culture 2028

The capital of Cher was chosen over Clermont-Ferrand, Montpellier and Rouen

French people still work less than other Europeans

France is second only to Finland as the EU country that works the fewest hours per year

France lags behind on wind farm installations, official report warns

It now risks fines for being the only country in Europe to miss its European renewable energy targets

Number of false euro notes on rise in France: Tips to spot a fake

€20 or €50 notes are the most likely to be counterfeit

French cancer expertise will help Europe’s fight against the disease

However, an inconsistent approach to tobacco and alcohol consumption across Europe threatens to hold up progress

‘Lack of humanity': France denounces UK government Ukraine response

The French Interior Minister called the response by his counterpart., UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, ‘totally unsuitable’ in the face of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian offensive

Why France uses daylight saving time and why it almost ended this year

France is set to put its clocks back by one hour during the night of October 30 to 31, but if had not been for the Covid pandemic, it might not have happened this year

EU orders promising treatment for severe Covid-19 from UK pharma firm

The medicine works using laboratory-reproduced antibodies. Early trials have found that it reduces the risk of hospitalisation or death in high-risk patients by 85%

Covid: France condemns Malta’s decision to bar unvaccinated tourists

Senior politician says it is against EU rules and the move could encourage other countries to do the same, rather than using the EU health pass

Millions in Europe hit by lack of Covid travel refunds, says EU court

Travellers whose trips were cancelled due to the virus could run to the millions, with very few refunds having been issued even now, the EU has said in a damning new update

French winemakers' relief as EU-US deal removes 'punitive' tariffs

Wine producers will be able to export to the US without extra customs taxes as a new agreement ends a 17-year trade dispute

France considering 'amber' listing for UK due to Indian variant

Europe needs to be ‘very vigilant,’ France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs has said. Vaccinated travellers will be able to visit from 'amber' countries - no details were given as to possible conditions for others

EU Covid health pass approved for travel use from July 1

The pass will allow free movement between EU countries as travellers will be able to show they do not have Covid-19

French health pass can be used for EU travel from June 17

The digital pass will contain information about Covid tests and vaccination status and will be recognised by EU member states

Covid France: European Union has not renewed AstraZeneca contract

The EU is expected to focus on the Pfizer vaccine instead, after making an order for 1.8 billion doses over the next two years

France to impose semi-lockdown so will travel within EU now stop?

New Covid rules mean people in France cannot travel over 10km from their homes without a valid reason, but travel within the EU is still – technically - allowed

Johnson & Johnson to deliver one-dose Covid vaccine to EU on April 19

The single-shot vaccine gives protection against serious forms of the virus and can be stored in standard fridges

EU digital health pass for summer travel available from June 15

The voluntary ‘Digital Green Certificate’ will be in the form of a scannable QR code to enable travel between EU countries this summer and beyond

EU begins approval process for 50m doses of Russian vaccine

The European Medicines Agency has said it should take ‘less time than normal’ to evaluate the Sputnik V vaccine, which has shown a 91.6% effectiveness rate

New Covid vaccine being assessed for EU distribution

Johnson & Johnson has submitted a demand for EU approval for its Covid-19 vaccine - if granted, the jab could be in use by April

EU to fast-track future variant vaccines as new study begins

New vaccines based on existing jabs will get fast-track approval, the EU said, as President von der Leyen defends the bloc’s vaccine strategy and confirms a new variant study

Covid-19: Negative PCR test now needed for EU-France travel

President Macron announced the new rule – and discussed other travel restrictions - in a meeting with the European Council yesterday

European court: French ban on CBD products illegal

The European Court of Justice has ruled that France’s laws on CBD products are illegal, as CBD does ‘not have a negative effect on human health’

Covid vaccine: EU and Moderna contract will be ready in days

As vaccines are on the verge of being approved in Europe, questions are being asked about France’s vaccination strategy

Covid-19 vaccine ‘should be mandatory for all’ in France

When a Covid-19 vaccine arrives in France and Europe, people in certain groups will likely receive it first, but a senior MEP has called for it to be mandatory for all. We explain

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

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”.

Marseille mayor welcomes Banksy rescue boat refugees

The MV Louise Michele ship was carrying over 250 refugees rescued from the Mediterranean Sea, and had been refused the right to dock in other European countries. The deputy mayor of Marseille has said the city will open its doors to those who were on board.

Brexit: will I need a new passport?

Every other day, we share a reader question from our Brexit and Britons in France Help Guide. Get your copy of the guide via the link at the end of this article.

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.

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

French residents can plan summer holidays in France

While waiting to see the results of deconfinement, authorities advise that French residents holiday in France, rather than overseas, this summer.

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

Europe losing health battle with measles

Europe is “losing ground” in the battle against measles, the World Health Organisation claims in a report.

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.

France warned to check for fake banknotes of €5-€50

Shoppers in France are being warned to check for fake banknotes, especially for notes of €5, €10, €20 and €50, the national gendarmerie has said.

EU/UK impasse means no-deal Brexit closer than ever

G7 Summit in Biarritz later this month is now regarded as the last chance to avoid no-deal

Sterling falls as Brexit impasse deepens

Prime Minister Boris Johnson rules out trips to France or Germany until EU agrees to reopen Withdrawal Agreement

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.

Europeans must see their destinies lie together

It is not that the European Union does not work, Eurosceptics tell us, it is that it cannot work. To expect 28 countries with 24 languages and different cultures to co-operate is madness, they say.

Britons ‘should have known date could be pushed back’

Britons should have anticipated that the March 29 Brexit date could be pushed back and registered to vote in the European elections in France anyway, the top administrative court has ruled.

A good night for Europe but also for the Brexiteers

Connexion speaks to British in Europe coalition leader Fiona Godfrey and sociologist Jean-Claude Kaufmann about the EU elections in the UK and France

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

France's far-right RN tops European election vote

Marine Le Pen's party wins 23.3% of the vote in France, narrowly pushing President Emmanuel Macron's LREM into second place

Bannon air time cuts far-right RN's media allowance

Media watchdog decides that media appearances of Donald Trump's former chief strategist should be counted as support for RN's European election campaign

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.

Voting right

I telephoned my local authority’s “electoral services” department to confirm the date of the European election.

May election will be LREM’s first big test

EU elections in France on May 26 will be the first big test for President Macron’s La République en Marche (LREM) party since he was elected in 2017.

French village offers asylum seekers a place to stay

Migrants stay in converted former gendarmerie barracks pending completion of their applications

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.