About: France
Le Pen sent to shrink over Islamic State tweets
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen expressed outrage Thursday (21 September) after being ordered to undergo psychiatric tests for tweeting pictures of atrocities committed by the Islamic State group.
Google in France’s firing line as right to be forgotten hearing arrives at ECJ
It may be your right to be forgotten, but that doesn't mean you can't be found. That is the big issue on the cards on Tuesday (11 September) as France's data regulator locks horns with Google in a hearing on the global application of the EU's right to be forgotten ruling.
Police raid offices of top French electrical firms in corruption probe
The offices of four of France’s largest electrical goods’ companies were raided by police on Thursday on suspicion of cartel pricing and corruption, a judicial source said.
Germany’s ‘strategic reserves’ for coal under fire in EU Council
A group of seven countries – comprising France, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Ireland and the UK – have issued a common position on the reform of Europe’s electricity market, saying “strategic reserves” for electricity should not receive favourable treatment from regulators.
France says it must use fewer US parts in its weapons systems
France must cut its dependence on US components in its weapons systems to minimise Washington's ability to block its arms exports, its defence minister said on Thursday (6 September).
France hangs up: Mobile phone ban for schools
A new legislation has been passed in France that prohibits the use of mobile phones in the classroom, in a move by the government aimed at combatting distraction and cases of online bullying.
France ready to intervene in case of new scallop skirmishes
Britain on Tuesday (4 September) said it agreed with France's decision to send its navy to waters in the English Channel where UK and French fishing boats clashed last week over access to scallop-rich waters.
French foreign minister: We no longer want to pay for Poland and Hungary
France does not want to finance a populist Europe, the country's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has indicated, just as the fight over the EU's new long-term budget begins in earnest. EURACTIV Poland's media partner Gazeta Wyborcza reports.
No country offers ports to migrant ships, angering Italy
Italy demanded on Thursday (30 August) the EU find other ports to disembark migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, suggesting it would withhold support for the EU naval mission against people-smuggling unless other countries take in survivors.
Italy to push EU for reform of ‘Operation Sophia’
Rome will today (30 August) ask the European Union to rotate the ports where migrants rescued at sea disembark, Defence Minister Elisabetta Trenta said, with France and Spain expected to top the list.
Macron’s green record under scrutiny as top minister quits
French President Emmanuel Macron once promised to "make our planet great again", but the shock resignation of his popular environment minister has put his mixed record on green issues under the spotlight.
French and British boats clash in scallop war skirmish
Stone-throwing, insults and dangerous manoeuvres on the high seas: French and British fishermen clashed in the English Channel over a hoard of scallops Tuesday (28 August), the latest flare-up in a years-long war over the prized shellfish.
French Environment Minister Hulot quits government, denouncing weight of lobbies
France's Minister of Ecological Transition, Nicolas Hulot, resigned from office, he announced on Tuesday morning (28 August) on French public radio France Inter. EURACTIV.fr reports.
EU security must no longer depend on US, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (27 August) called for Europe to stop relying on the United States for its military defence as he pushed for fresh EU integration in the face of rising nationalism around the continent.
Consumer group urges Germany to stop opposing colour coded nutrition labeling
Consumer organisation Foodwatch has called on German Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner to give up her opposition to a Nutri-Score food labelling scheme, after Belgium announced this week it will introduce such a label, following similar moves from the UK and France.
Germany blocks ‘Dieselgate’ investigation in France
Three French investigative judges have complained about the lack of collaboration from the German judiciary in the ‘Dieselgate’ file. Germany meanwhile alleged possible disruptions of its own investigation. An article from our partner Ouest-France.
France to set penalties on non-recycled plastic
France plans to introduce a penalty system next year that would increase the costs of consumer goods with packaging made of non-recycled plastic.
Spain-France border town sees marked increase in migrants
With migrant arrivals to Spain's southern shores on the rise, a lot of them are heading north to the border town of Irun, some sleeping rough as they wait to cross into neighbouring France, locals and officials said.
France adopts controversial asylum and immigration law
France's parliament signed into law a controversial asylum and immigration bill on Wednesday (1 August), despite opposition on the left which decried an effort to limit arrivals while the far right saw the measure as not going far enough.
UK loses EU anti-piracy missions to France and Spain
The headquarters of the EU’s anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia will be moved from the UK to France and Spain next year as the latest consequence of Brexit.
France, Spain, Portugal up energy links
France, Spain and Portugal agreed on 27 July to build an undersea power line in the Bay of Biscay as they up electricity links aimed at helping the Iberian peninsula out of its energy isolation.
Russia tests the waters for Donbas referendum
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said on Thursday (26 July) that the question of holding a referendum in eastern Ukraine was touched upon at a meeting of representatives of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine in Berlin, the RIA news agency reported.
Juncker-Trump trade deal disrupts European unity
US President Donald Trump and European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker might have cracked the united front of the 28 member states, as France has already questioned the terms of their agreement and asked the Commission for clarifications.