About: France
French wind energy ‘in limbo’ for more than a year
Not a single wind energy project has been approved in France since December 2017, an embarrassing fact for Paris as it tries to position itself as a champion of climate action in Europe.
France takes Roundup weed-killer off market after court ruling
French authorities on Tuesday (15 January) banned the sale of a form of controversial weed-killer Roundup following a court ruling that regulators failed to take safety concerns into account when clearing the widely used herbicide.
Berlin waves prospect of more talks with UK ahead of ‘meaningful vote’
The European Union could hold new talks with London if the UK parliament rejects the Brexit agreement tonight, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday (15 January) but reiterated there was little hope of fundamentally changing the agreement.
France kick-starts ‘grand national debate’ to calm yellow vest protesters
From 15 January to 15 March France will hold what President Emmanuel Macron has termed the "great national debate", a public consultation to discuss the "essential questions" facing the nation after nearly two months of violent so-called yellow vest protests.
Italy’s Salvini attacks France, Germany over shipbuilding intervention
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini attacked France and Germany on Tuesday (8 January) over their role in a European Union investigation into a planned merger involving Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
France to advocate multilateralism to address inequality at G7
Fighting inequality and global warming will be key objectives of the French G7 Presidency in 2019. The aim of developing closer relations with Africa, in the interests of multilateralism, is also highlighted by France. EURACTIV France reports.
Poland lashes out against EU and Paris over French deficit
Poland on Friday (4 January) accused France of breaching European Union laws by exceeding spending limits, the latest in a series of long-running clashes between the two member states. Paris last month forecast a 2019 deficit of 3.2%, which would...
2019 LOOKAHEAD: New brand of social upheaval takes shape ahead of EU elections
The yellow vests in France and Belgium may be only the tip of the iceberg of a major social upheaval ahead of the European elections, with a common denominator: people protesting their worsening living standards do not want to be represented by the existing political forces.
Macron had ‘lost authority’ by exceeding deficit limit, Oettinger said
France president Emmanuel Macron "lost authority" by releasing a budget draft which would exceed the EU's 3% deficit limit, Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said on Thursday (27 December) in an interview.
France wants to support women’s role in addressing climate change
The inclusion of women in the climate debate remains in its early stages. The French women involved in the climate negotiations are trying to alert people to this issue. EURACTIV France reports.
Main suspect in Strasbourg attack killed in gun battle with police
The suspected gunman who killed three people at a Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg was shot dead on Thursday (13 December) in a brief gun battle with police after being on the run for 48 hours, police sources said.
Commission to judge in May France’s deficit deviation
The European Commission will conclude in May whether France’s deficit slippage caused by new spending measures represents a limited and temporary deviation allowed by the rules.
EU counter-terrorism chief: Europe ‘may see something like Daesh 2.0’
The level of terrorist threat remains "pretty serious" in several EU countries, Gilles de Kerchove, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator, told EURACTIV.com in an interview hours before the latest attack in Strasbourg on Tuesday night (12 December).
Is populism bad for climate change?
The violent response to the French carbon tax in Paris demonstrates good climate policy is dependent on a fair, just and managed transition writes Sanjeev Kumar. Far from stalling, climate change action is becoming a major issue in elections globally, he says.
COP24 dairy – day #9
Over this special series on COP24, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the UN climate conference in Katowice and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: An update on the negotiations, postponing climate ambition, 415 institutional investors, a climate damages tax, and more.
Salvini hails six months in power, wants to personally negotiate with EU
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini spoke to thousands of supporters in a packed square in Rome on Saturday (8 December) as his surging League party celebrates six months in power. EURACTIV reports from Rome.
Host migrants or pay, France and Germany propose
European Union governments that refuse to host refugees could instead pay to be excused from the bloc's system of sharing out migrants, France and Germany proposed on Thursday (6 December) as they sought to end a long-running EU feud over migration.
COP24 diary – day #4
Over this special series on COP24, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the goings on of the UN climate conference in Katowice and what is driving the conversation there. In this edition: An update on the negotiations, Bulgaria, Canada, open letters, the shipping and car industry, and more.
A double failure for France in creating European taxes
In the middle of the “yellow vest” crisis, France has failed to unblock tax proposals on financial and digital transactions. These two measures for fiscal justice had been advocated by Paris for a long time. EURACTIV France reports.
Germany, France to add Spain to European jet fighter programme
Germany and France will welcome Spain as a full partner in their programme to develop a next-generation air combat system, and expect to sign an agreement finalising the move at the Paris Air Show in June, German government sources said on Wednesday (5 December).
COP24 diary – day #3
Over this special series on COP24, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse in the goings on of the UN climate conference in Katowice and what drives conversation there. In this edition: An update on the negotiations, green finance, just transition, climate risk index, and more.
France and Germany backtrack on digital tax scope
France and Germany presented on Tuesday (4 December) revised plans for the EU's proposed digital tax reforms under which large firms would pay a levy only on advertising sales and not on total revenues, representing a significant reduction of the Commission's original scope.
France and Germany aim to keep digital tax alive with new proposal
France and Germany sought on Monday (3 December) to salvage a proposed EU tax on big digital firms by narrowing the focus to cover only companies' online advertising revenue, a European source said.