Latest news with #Bercy
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
France considers freezing assets of Algerian officials
Tensions between France and Algeria could be heading toward a new escalation. According to L'Express, Paris is considering freezing the assets of «about twenty dignitaries» of the Algerian regime. This measure could be implemented in the event of further deterioration in relations between the two countries—a threat reportedly raised by the French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau. «According to our information, this option is being seriously considered, both at Bercy (Ministry of Finance) and Beauvau (Ministry of the Interior). A list of 'about twenty dignitaries' has been drawn up», a government source told L'Express. These individuals hold key positions in the Algerian administration, security apparatus, and political system, while also owning properties or financial assets in France. «It is estimated that 801 members of the Algerian nomenklatura have financial interests in France and visit regularly. This figure does not include military personnel», the magazine added. The potential sanctions are reportedly being considered as «a response to Algiers' refusal to take back several of its nationals under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). The idea within the government is to use this list of twenty dignitaries as a last resort in diplomatic negotiations between the two countries», according to L'Express. A first measure was already taken on May 16, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suspended a 2007 agreement allowing holders of diplomatic passports to travel freely between the two countries without a visa. The current crisis between Paris and Algiers was sparked by President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara on July 30. The arrest of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algiers on November 16 further strained relations.
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Paris to Allow Swimming in Seine from July in Olympic Legacy
Remember the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics? The fortnight of intense and memorable sporting competition against the background of iconic landmarks amid brilliant sunshine in the French capital, days that will never be forgotten. And the constant uncertainty about whether the River Seine would be clean enough to allow the open water swimming and triathlon events to take place. The organizers set the ambitious goal of staging those events in a river long seen as too polluted for swimming and, despite the occasional hitch when heavy rain increased pollution levels, pulled it off. Now, fulfilling a key legacy promise from the Games, the Paris authorities this summer are to allow the public to swim from July 5 at three points in the Seine which is now deemed safe for a dip. "It was an extraordinary moment (in 2024), but swimming during the Games was not an end in itself," Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told reporters. "Making the Seine swimmable is first and foremost a response to the objective of adapting to climate change, but also of quality of life," she added. Parisians and tourists alike will be able to take the plunge at bras Marie in the heart of the historic center, the Grenelle district in the west of Paris, as well as Bercy in the east. Once a favorite pastime in Paris, swimming in the Seine had been off limits for a century until last year due to the pollution levels. "This summer, Parisians and tourists will rediscover the joys of swimming in the Seine, a hundred years after it was banned," city hall said in a statement. Swimming will be supervised and monitored, said Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sports. The city expects to welcome between 150 and 300 people at any given time at the three sites, which will close for the season at the end of August. As on beaches, a system of flags -- green, yellow and red -- will make clear the safety of swimming according to the Seine's current and the quality of the water. The water quality will be closely watched, after high levels of bacteria forced the postponement of some of the competitions on certain days during the Olympics. Checks will be carried out daily, and swimming may be suspended in the event of rain, said Marc Guillaume, the prefect, the top state-appointed official, of the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris. He expressed "even more optimism" about water quality than last summer, given the work done on making the river cleaner.
Local France
26-03-2025
- Business
- Local France
France's micro-entrepreneurs in limbo over changes to VAT rules
In February, the French parliament passed the delayed 2025 budget, which included creating a single VAT threshold for all businesses of €25,000 – which would have brought many micro entrepreneurs into paying VAT for the first time. READ ALSO Explained: What France's new budget means for you Under current rules, anyone registered as a micro-entrepreneur benefits from a simplified business regime, as well as a VAT exemption on earnings below €37,500 a year for those selling services, or €85,000 a year for those selling goods. Within hours of the budget being passed back in February, it was announced that VAT reform had been 'paused' to allow time for consultation, following a backlash from the small business community. It was later confirmed the pause would last until June 1st. Advertisement There are around 2.5 million registered micro-entrepreneurs (formerly known as auto entrepreneurs ) in France. Those registered as micro-entrepreneurs include freelancers (such as journalists, translators and tutors), sole traders (including electricians or plumbers) or anyone running a small business such as a shop or gîte - the status is only available to people earning under a certain amount . READ ALSO How much can you earn as a French micro-entrepreneur It is believed that between 200,000 and 250,000 micro-entrepreneurs would be affected by the reduction in VAT thresholds, which would come in at a rate of 20 percent. As part of the consultation, "professional federations and parliamentarians were able to express their concerns, expectations, and suggestions". "This consultation, now completed, brought together more than 50 professional federations. All the federations that requested it were heard,' the finance ministry Bercy stated in a press release. Meanwhile, former prime minister Gabriel Attal led calls for VAT reforms to be abandoned . In an open letter, signed by 100 Macronist politicians, including several former ministers, Attal wrote: "This measure would massively destroy activity and wealth in our country ... Almost half of [affected micro-entrepreneurs ] are under 30 – they are neither rich nor privileged. 'The risk is not only that the French will pay more taxes, but also that they will create fewer businesses. It's a risk for our entrepreneurs, a risk for our economic fabric, a risk for the purchasing power of the French.' Advertisement The president of the Fédération nationale des auto-entrepreneurs branded the lowering of the VAT threshold 'a form of racketeering' that reflected, 'a very poor understanding of the economic fabric of precarious workers – people who earn €1,500 to €2,000 net per month.' READ ALSO Micro-entrepreneur: How to set up as a small business in France Grégoire Leclercq said: 'In the majority of cases, [ micro-entrepreneurs ] are unable to pass this 20 percent increase [in costs] on to their customers.' He called for France to follow Italy's lead and set the single threshold much higher – at €85,000 for services and sales. Numerous protests against the planned reforms have taken place. According to unions, some 20,000 micro-entrepreneurs took to the streets on Tuesday, March 25th, in 15 cities across France – including Montpellier, Tours, Nantes, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, and Paris. One told Franceinfo : 'I can't ask my customers to pay more – if I have to pay VAT out of my own pocket from €25,000, I'll close [my business].' Another said: 'Without VAT, I manage to earn more or less the minimum wage – or even a little more in some months – since my salary varies. 'If the VAT reform passes, I'll end up earning €1,000 net per month. I don't see the point of doing a job I enjoy if I can't make a living from it.' READ ALSO URSSAF: What is it, how it works, and how it affects you There is, however, less consensus among business associations. While some organisations have pointed out that micro-entrepreneurs they represent cannot easily pass on VAT to customers, others are either neutral or lean in favour of the reform because – they say – it levels the playing field between micro-entrepreneurs and other business regimes. Some federations have suggested possible alternative avenues, or requested the implementation of accompanying measures to address self-employed workers' concerns. The government is expected to propose adjustments to the measure adopted in the 2025 Finance Act in the coming days.
