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France lifts lid on gradual virus deconfinement plan
The French government's plan to ease coronavirus lockdown measures relies on a strategy of testing and isolating patients to ensure the second wave of contamination is kept under control. EURACTIV France reports.
France calls for urgent EU help for its crisis-ridden farming sector
France's Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume has multiplied calls for assistance from Brussels to deal with the effects of the ongoing health crisis. In other words, the milk, meat, fruit and vegetable sectors cannot wait much longer. EURACTIV France reports.
French farmers and MPs call for the creation of European food stocks
French agricultural producers and MPs are urging the European Commission to set up food stocks to avoid falling prices and the destruction of certain food products. EURACTIV France reports.
France puts dividends payments into ‘confinement’ amid COVID-19 crisis
The French government intends to prohibit the payment of dividends to companies receiving state funding. While this would remain a partial ban, many are eager to see it become generalised in the context of the health and economic crisis. EURACTIV France reports.
COVID-19: France calls unemployed to work in fields as borders stay closed
The French government has called on the technically unemployed French to make themselves available to help farmers with seasonal harvests. But such 'agricultural patriotism' does not bode well with the tightening of containment. EURACTIV France reports.
COVID-19: France wants to activate EU bailout fund without conditions or delay
The financial crisis management tool of the eurozone countries must be activated without delay and without conditions, said French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire before the Eurogroup meeting on Tuesday (24 March). EURACTIV France reports.
Coronavirus puts French agricultural production centre-stage
In France, the coronavirus crisis has put the agricultural sector back in the spotlight as concerns persist about the transport of food and seasonal shortages of farm labourers. EURACTIV France reports.
After declaring ‘war’ on COVID-19, France readies measures to uphold economy
To cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has announced a series of measures to support businesses, including "nationalisation". EURACTIV France reports.
Coronavirus: Macron announces drastic measures in France
France will close from Monday all nurseries, schools and universities to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address on Thursday (12 March), calling the outbreak the nation's worst public health crisis in a century.
Europe’s agricultural sector struggles to reduce emissions
Europe's agricultural sector has barely managed to reduce its emissions since 2018, according to a report by the European Environment Agency published on Tuesday (10 March). EURACTIV France reports.
Agricultural drones are gradually ‘taking off’ in France
France is experimenting with drones as a means of spraying pesticides so that by 2021 it may launch the practice as it could lead to more precise treatments, as well as a reduction in the use of phytosanitary products. EURACTIV France reports.
Could robot weeders be the solution to France’s pesticide problem?
As farmers are urged to reduce their use of plant protection products, they are forced to take on manual weeding, a tedious task for which manpower is hard to find. But could so-called 'robot weeders' provide a solution to this problem? EURACTIV France reports.
Lawmakers pressure Paris to do more for EU budget
MEPs in charge of negotiating the EU's next seven-year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), came to Paris to seek France's support before the start of decisive talks on the future European budget. EURACTIV France reports.
French Court of Auditors sounds the alarm on use of phytosanitary products
In 2018 alone, the French government spent €400 million to reduce the use of pesticides, even though their use ended up increasing. France's public auditor is criticising the situation and calling on integrating agro-ecological transition objectives into the CAP. EURACTIV France reports.
Oil giant Total’s ‘corporate vigilance’ in Uganda to be vetted by commercial peers
French oil giant Total's failure to respect France's 'corporate vigilance' law has led to human rights violations in Uganda, according to a group of French and Ugandan NGOs who are suing the company. But the court procedure has taken an unexpected turn that did not please the plaintiffs. EURACTIV France reports.
France wants to ensure more young people benefit from CAP payments
Paris believes an age limit for receiving aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) would make room for young people in the farming sector. But Brussels does not see it that way, saying this would amount to age discrimination. EURACTIV France reports.
France bets on development of biocontrol to solve pesticide problem
Having struggled to reduce the use of plant protection products, France intends to work twice as hard on the development of so-called 'biocontrol' methods. Besides, it is pushing to develop more favourable rules at the European level for the industry. EURACTIV France reports.
Macron and Le Pen’s MEPs to be on equal footing after Brexit
Once the UK leaves the EU on 31 January, new MEPs will be taking up seats in the European Parliament. Due to its growing population, France will obtain five of 27 new seats. EURACTIV France reports.
French bio-waste finds second life in building insulation
By using hemp, brewers grains and spelt husk, many French SMEs are starting to manufacture natural insulation materials based on bio-sourced materials and biowaste, which have not previously been 're-purposed'. In other words, they are using 'green' alternative to conventional insulation. EURACTIV France reports.
Not all member states will benefit from the European Green Deal
The wide-ranging European Green Deal provides for a European fund for a just transition, which is meant to support regions that are economically highly dependent on fossil fuels. But not all member states will benefit from it. EURACTIV France reports.
Despite plans to ban glyphosate, its sales in France increase by 10%
Despite France's campaign against glyphosate and a plan to ban it in a majority of agricultural practices by the end of 2020, the world's most commonly used weedkiller saw its sales volumes soar by 10% in the country in 2018.
French vineyards fear losing land to new pesticide-free zones
Pesticide-free zones, implemented in France since 1 January 2020, have angered winegrowers, who are losing a great deal of surface area, while civil society still considers them insufficient. EURACTIV France reports.
Banning single-use plastics in France by 2040 is far too late, environmentalists say
The French National Assembly has voted to ban all disposable plastics by... 2040, which would be far too late for many environmental advocates. EURACTIV France reports.