Latest news with #CapitalFrance
Local France
16-04-2025
- Business
- Local France
How France's latest plan to cut spending could impact you
On Tuesday, French Prime Minister François Bayrou gave a speech at a conference on public spending where he outlined the urgent need to find between "€40 and €50 billion in savings". Bayrou slammed France's debt, noting that changes were necessary and that the "survival of our country is at stake." While Bayrou did not offer any specific plans, he called tax increases an 'unsustainable' solution, despite the fact that the government is reportedly considering maintaining what was meant to be a one-time special tax on high-earners. The prime minister explained that more details would be announced on July 14th, but he did offer some general areas that the government would focus on to decrease France's debt. OPINION: 'Make the French work harder' - good luck convincing them Producing more The details in July are likely to include provisions to increase employment and production, particularly amongst the youth and older workers (55+). Bayrou argued that France "lacks to means to finance its policies because it doesn't produce or work enough." He highlighted the importance of "restoring production" and "reindustrialisation". The prime minister specified the need for France to reduce its "agricultural, industrial and intellectual dependence", which could be accomplished either through producing more or changing consumption patterns. Advertisement Working more In terms of employment, the PM argued France would need to work more, namely in regard to young people and seniors, who he claimed have a lower employment rate than the same groups in other European countries. However, the latest European figures are from 2023, and those showed that France was average. In 2023, France's youth employment rate (people under 24) was 35.2 percent (about the same as Portugal). The youth employment rate was lower in Italy and Spain, whereas the Germans, Danes and Dutch had higher youth employment levels, Radio France reported. For older people (55-64), Bayrou was correct that France was below the average, with 58 percent of this cohort employed, in contrast to the EU average of 64 percent. Changes to sick leave The public accounts minister, Amélie de Montchalin, also made some announcements at the press conference. She explained that the government aims to reduce public spending by six percent by 2029, and she specifically highlighted the need to combat the "very serious increase in sick leave" ( congé/ arrêt maladie ). According to reporting by Capital France , employee absenteeism had increased 41 percent since 2019 (the last year pre-Covid-19). Advertisement Capital France found that the "increase is mainly explained by the increase in frequency of long-term absences (more than two months), which increased by 7.5 percent between 2023 and 2024". Amongst the increase in sick leave, mental health related leave periods are now the leading cause of long-term absences, particularly amongst younger workers. Ending tax breaks and loopholes Montchalin also called for greater "accountability" in public services. Even though Bayrou joked about France giving people a "bonus for taking their shoes to the cobbler", Montchalin reiterated the fact that the government would make an effort to decrease tax benefits and loopholes. Montchalin in a separate interview with TF1 on Wednesday said: "There are 467 tax loopholes, several dozen of which benefit fewer than 100 taxpayers." She did not offer any details about which tax breaks would be targeted, but this will likely be specified with greater detail in July. READ MORE: 10 tax breaks you could benefit from in France
Local France
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
France rolls out 'flash free' speed cameras
It's a common experience for drivers - you see a bright flash and realise with horror that you have been exceeding the speed limit, and it's likely that a speeding ticket will soon be arriving in the mail. However France is increasingly switching to 'flash free' cameras, so you might be entirely oblivious until the ticket arrives. The first Fusion 2 Mesta turret radar cameras were deployed on French roads in 2019, but in recent months the rollout has been accelerated, and now there are around 400 of them around the country. Advertisement The plan is for them to gradually replace the older cameras, and be used for new camera sites, until they eventually represent around 75 percent of France's fixed speed cameras. The country currently has 4,000 fixed speed cameras in operation, and this year the number is expected to rise to 4,160, according to Capital France . You can see a map of where they are located on the Securité Routière website. This is in addition to mobile cameras and to police officers carrying out roadside speed checks. When you are entering a stretch of road where cameras are deployed, you should see the below sign. A French road sign warning drivers of speed cameras ahead. Photo by PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP Speeding in France is usually punishable by a fine and/or points being added to the driver's licence, although in cases of very excessive speed - or when speeding is combined with another type of traffic offence such as dangerous driving - it can result in the loss of the licence. Radars, fines and points: France's speeding laws explained
Local France
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
Radars, fines and points: How to understand France's speeding laws
When driving in France, it is important to pay close attention to signage and to respect the speed limit at all times. Speeding is not only dangerous, but it can also get you a hefty ticket. Even though it may not be a big deal to go just a couple kilometres over the limit in your home country, speeding is taken very seriously in France. You can be pulled over by a police officer for speeding, but you could also be caught by a speed camera and not even realise it until you get a fine in the mail. Pay careful attention to the signs showing the speed limits - it's not uncommon for the limit to change regularly along the same road, especially the rural single lane routes. The country currently has 4,000 speed cameras in operation, and this year the number is expected to rise to 4,160, according to Capital France . You can see a map of where they are located on the Securité Routière website. Standard speed limit rules In France, you risk both a fine and points removed from your French licence. Most foreigners in France (excluding Brits) are required to swap their licence for a French licence one year after moving here. You can find details in our separate article. Advertisement For non-EU tourists who are driving their own cars in France, whether or not you receive a point on your foreign licence depends on whether your country (or state) has a reciprocal agreement with France. If you have snapped by a speed camera while in a hire car, rental companies will relay your information to French authorities, and they may also apply a surcharge for fines. READ MORE: Can France confiscate your foreign driving licence? If you are caught going less than 5km/h above the permitted speed, then there is no longer any risk of having points taken from your licence, but you still risk a fine. The fines are correlated to the type of 'class of offence'. As such, if the speed limit was more than 50km/h the standard ( forfaitaire ) fine would be €68, which is the amount for a 3rd class offence. If the limit was less or equal to 50km/h the standard fine would be €135, which is the amount for a 4th class offence. READ MORE: What to do if you get a speeding ticket while driving in France This fine can either be decreased ( minorée ) if you pay quickly, or it can be increased ( majorée ) if you do not pay within the time limit specified in your fine. The instructions for how to pay will be included with the fine, along with instructions to give details of another driver if you weren't driving at the time. You can see the remaining offence 'classes' in the table below. The most severe would be the 5th class offence (going 50km/h above the limit) which leads to a removal of six points from your licence and a fine of up to €1,500. Service Public chart of speeding offences in France, in English. What is the 'margin of error'? In theory, any speeding can lead to a fine, but if you are caught by a speed camera then there is a 'margin of error' to consider too. Keep an eye out for signage indicating that you have entered a zone with radar enforcement. Despite rumours that these would be changing in 2025, French media has confirmed that there are no plans to change radar 'margins of error'. These are outlined by French law , and they depend on the type of speed camera. Advertisement Fixed speed camera ( radar de vitesse fixe ) - This would be a box-looking radar device along the side of the road that is permanently placed there. It has a margin of error of 5km/h under 100km/h. Over 100km/h, a five percent margin is applied. Basically, this means if the fine says you were driving at 78km/h in a 70km/h zone, then you subtract the margin of error to get the vitesse retenue. In this example, 78 - 5 = 73. Regardless of the margin of error, you were still speeding three kilometres above the limit, and thus you will get a fine but no points on your licence. Mobile Speed Cameras ( les radars mobiles ) - These are the speed cameras installed in police vehicles , and they are less accurate. The margin of error is 10km/h for speeds below 100km/h, and it is 10 percent for speeds above 100km/h. Advertisement Stopped radar cars ( radars vitesse embarqués ) - These are speed cameras positioned inside or outside of vehicles along the roadside. The margin of error is also 5km/h under 100km/h, and five percent above 100km/h. You might not see a 'flash' Several speed camera models do not 'flash' anymore. In fact, since 2019, France has deployed over 400 units of the latest 'Fusion 2 Mesta turret radar' (the latest 'fixed radar' on the side of the road). This camera uses an invisible infrared flash, so you may not know that it caught you speeding. According to Le Figaro , France plans on deploying more of these units across the country, and eventually they will represent 75 percent of speed cameras on the roads. Vocab guide Exces de vitesse - speeding Maximum vitesse - speed limit Vitesse retenue - Your recorded speed minus the margin of error. This is the speed used to calculate your fine if you were caught by a radar device. Appareil de contrôle - The type of speed camera or device that registered you as speeding Amende minorée - Fine at the decreased level. This applies if you pay quickly. Usually the limit is 46 days, from the date the ticket was issued. Amende forfetaire - The standard fine. This is the amount you pay if you do so within the 'standard' period (meaning 47-76 days). Amende majorée - The increased fine for late payment. This is the amount you would pay after 76 days. Avis de contravention - Ticket/ notice of violation Formulaire de requête en exonération - Request to contest the ticket. This form will come with the ticket in the mail. You can fill it out and send it back to contest the charge and request a reimbursement. Keep in mind that unless someone else was driving your vehicle, or it was sold/ destroyed/ stolen, then you must pay the ticket and request reimbursement.
