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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

From a surprise election campaign to strikes from French air traffic controllers, via the start of Euro 2024 and Father's Day, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 9 June 2024 08:32 CEST
Updated: 10 June 2024 08:47 CEST
On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week
The winners of the 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race on June 11, 2023. (Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP)

Monday

Parliament dissolved – following Emmanuel Macron’s surprise announcement of fresh legislative elections on Sunday night, the French parliament is now dissolved and parties prepare their campaigns for the elections, which will be held on June 30th and July 7th.

READ ALSO What happens now with France’s snap elections?

Tuesday

Air traffic control strike cancelled – The air traffic controllers’ union at Paris’ Orly airport previously filed a strike notice covering June 11th, 12th and 13th. However, on Monday, unions cancelled the strike.

Short-stay Schengen visas – The fee for getting a Schengen visa will rise by 12 percent on June 11th. The hike means the basic fee for a Schengen visa will rise from €80 to €90 for adults and from €40 to €45 for children. The reason for the price hike has been blamed on inflation in member states.

Thursday

Paris cheese museum – The Musée Vivant du Fromage will open its doors on June 13th, promising a unique immersive and interactive journey into France’s ‘culinary and terroir heritage’.

READ MORE: Three things to know about the new Paris cheese museum

Friday

Deadline for candidates – candidates have until the end of Friday to formalise their candidate in the parliamentary elections. The completed paperwork must be filed at the préfecture of the constituency that they are standing in.

World Blood Donor Day – June 14th marks the international day that countries around the world recognise blood donors and the importance of blood donation.

READ MORE: How to donate blood in France

Start of the Euros – Germany will play against Scotland at 9pm as the opening match of the 2024 Euros.

READ ALSO How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament in France

Saturday

24 Hours of Le Mans – The endurance-focused sports car race will be held on June 15th to 16th this year near the pretty medieval town of Le Mans.

Changes to psychological support – Starting on June 15th, some aspects of France’s psychological support system, Mon Soutien Psy, will change. Sessions will remain reimbursed at a rate of 60 percent, but they will be allowed to increase in cost from €30 to €50. There will be a possibility to directly consult a psychologist without going through a doctor first. The number of sessions covered by the scheme will also increase from 8 to 12.

Sunday

Father’s Day – The French Father’s Day will take place on Sunday, June 16th this year.

End of the D-Day festival – The ‘D-Day Festival Normandy’ involves several different remembrance events, and it will conclude on June 16th (having begun on June 1st). You can download the full itinerary HERE. English translations can be found under the original French. 

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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

From the first round of voting in the snap parliamentary election to the property tax declaration deadline and the start of the summer sales, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 23 June 2024 08:06 CEST
On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

Monday

Reopening of the A13 motorway – After being partially closed (between Vaucresson and Paris) for over two months, the A13 motorway will finally reopen in the direction of the capital on Monday evening. On Thursday, all traffic (in both directions) will resume on the A13.

Tuesday

TV election debate – There will be a debate ahead of the snap parliamentary election on Tuesday at 9pm on TF1 and LCI radio. It will be between prime minister Gabriel Attal, the far-right’s Jordan Bardella and Manuel Bompard representing the left alliance. 

France v Poland – The French team will go up against Poland in the group stage of the Euros on Tuesday at 6pm at the Signal Iduna Park Stadium in Dortmund, Germany.

READ MORE: How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament on TV in France

Wednesday

The summer sales – For the majority of the country, the summer sales (soldes d’été) will start on Wednesday, June 26th and will run until Tuesday, July 23rd. There are some exceptions like the French overseas territories, and Corsica, where you’ll have to wait until July 10th for the sales to kick off. 

Thursday

Macron to Brussels – The French President will travel to Brussels for the European Council on June 27th and 28th 2024.

Saturday

Paris pride parade – The month of June marks Pride Month for members of the LGBTQI+ community. The Paris Pride parade (marches des fiertés in French) is the largest, attracting thousands of participants and spectators. It will depart from at 1.30pm from Porte de la Villette and move toward Place de la République.

Tour de France – An Olympics-affected 2024 Tour begins in northern Italy on Saturday, with a 206km ride from Florence to Rimini. Because Paris is all Olympics-ed up, the race this year finishes in Nice, rather than along the Champs-Elysées as is traditional.

READ MORE: How to follow the Tour de France on French TV (and why you might want to)

Sunday

First round of parliamentary elections – The first round of voting in France’s parliamentary elections will take place on Sunday. Only French citizens (including dual nationals) are eligible to vote. The second round will take place on July 7th.

READ MORE: How to vote in France’s snap parliamentary elections

Property tax declaration – Property owners are required to do another tax form – the déclaration d’occupation or déclaration de biens immobiliers – and it must be submitted by June 30th (by 11.59pm). However, this is not an annual task, you only have to do it if you did not complete it last year, or if you bought a property or otherwise changed your status in the last year – full details HERE.

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