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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

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

From the anniversary of the Paris Notre-Dame fire to a flash sale for Olympics tickets and an announcement about budget cuts, here's what is happening in France this week.

On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week
Scaffolding and cranes around Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral during reconstruction work, photo taken on April 4, 2024 on the Ile de la Cite, in Paris (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

Monday

Fifth anniversary of Notre-Dame fire – There will be a short religious service – a Te Deum – on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the fire. The cathedral is on track to reopen in December 2024.

Start of technical inspections for two-wheelers – After having been postponed several times over the course of nine years, the contrôle technique (roadworthiness test) for motorised motorbikes, tricycles and quadricycles, will be phased in starting on April 15th. 

READ MORE: Contrôle technique: What we know about the new French safety checks for motorbikes

Summer camp pass – France will launch a new subsidy aimed at helping middle and low income households to send their 11-year-olds to holiday clubs over the summer, with hopes of reducing time spent on screens. It will be called the ‘pass colo‘, and eligible families will be able request it by going to jeunes.gouv.fr starting on April 15th.

Spring festival – The town of Arnage (in the Sarthe département, near Le Mans) will host its spring festival from Monday, April 15th to Friday April 19th. On Saturday, there will be a ‘flower and flavour’ market from 10am to 5pm to mark the end of the festival. More info here.

Wednesday

Flash sale for 250,000 Olympics tickets – The next tranche of Olympics tickets will be on sale on Wednesday, April 17th, marking 100 days before the opening ceremony. The tickets will go on sale at 10am (Paris-time). They can be bought from anywhere in the world on the official Olympics website (paris2024.org). You will need an account to purchase tickets. More info here.

Announcement of budget cuts – In response to France’s budget deficit reaching €154 billion, or 5.5 percent of GDP, the country’s finance minister Bruno Le Maire will present a package of budget cuts to ministers on Wednesday, entitled the programme de stabilité (PSTAB). 

READ MORE: How France’s bid to tackle ‘wild’ budget deficit could impact you

Thursday

Paris Metro – Amid several line closures due to works, including line 11 from Belleville to Mairie des Lilas, some stations will begin gradually reopening as the summer approaches following. Gare d’Austerlitz will reopen for passengers starting on Thursday. You can download either the IDF Mobilités or the Bonjour RATP apps to see closures in real-time.

Saturday

School holidays – Zone B, which includes Aix-Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg, has its spring holidays from April 20th until May 6th. 

Paris transport – The commuter train, the RER B, will be closed between Aulnay-sous-Bois and Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2-TGV during the weekend of April 20th to 21st. As such, travellers should plan alternative routes to get to the airport – you may consider taking the Roissy Bus or a taxi between Paris and the airport.

READ MORE: What you need to know about taking a taxi in Paris

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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

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

From the start of the Cannes Film Festival to the European night of museums and increased medical costs, here's what is happening in France this week.

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

Monday

‘Choose France’ Summit – French President Emmanuel Macron will chair the 7th annual ‘Choose France’ summit, which gathers foreign business leaders and investors to the Château de Versailles. This year, the theme will be centered on the Paris Olympic Games. 

QR codes – People who live in central Paris may need to register for a QR code during the Olympic Games. The platform opens to the public on Monday.

READ MORE: Paris Olympics: Who needs a QR code to get around and how to sign up for one

Assisted dying bill – A special commission within France’s Assemblée Nationale will begin examining a bill aimed at legalising assisted death for the terminally ill. The full bill will be presented before parliament for debates starting on May 27th.

Tuesday

The Cannes Film Festival – The 77th edition of the Cannes film festival will take place from May 14th to 25th at the Palais des festivals et des congrès in Cannes. 

Wednesday

MaPrimeRénov changes – France’s scheme to help households pay for energy renovations to their homes will change between May 15th and December 31st. First, you will still be able to use it to finance single projects work, such as fixing insulation, and you will be able to do this without giving a prior energy rating, which means that homes with lower energy scores will be eligible for single-project renovations longer.

READ MORE: GUIDE: French property grants you might be eligible for

Increased medical costs – In January, the French government announced plans to double two types of healthcare expenses, one being the participation forfaitaire, which will increase from a flat rate of €1 to between €2-3 starting on May 15th. These are the small healthcare costs for things like prescriptions, appointments and travel to and from healthcare visits that are not reimbursed by the state.

READ MORE: Why medical costs are rising in France in 2024

Thursday

Firefighter’s strike – Firefighters in France are planning to strike on Thursday in the hopes of getting better recognition for occupational illnesses, including cancer. While firefighters in France do have the right to strike, they are subject to a minimum service obligation and, if necessary, small teams can be requisitioned by local authorities for emergencies.

Friday

Art rock festival – If you are a fan of rock music, you might be interested in the Art Rock festival in Saint-Brieuc in Brittany. It will run from Friday May 17th to Sunday May 19th, with well-known performers like the Libertines, Morcheeba and Clara Ysé. More info on ticketing here.

Saturday

European night of Museums – On Saturday, May 18th many museums will keep their doors open – for free – all night long as part of the “European night of museums”. This year will mark the 20th edition of the event since its launch in 2005. Several Paris museums take part, outside of Paris you can find more information on the website for your local town hall. For Paris, more information here.

Sunday

Pharmacists to strike – Unions representing pharmacists have called for strikes in protect over drug shortages, low wages and the sale of medication on the internet. On-call pharmacists have been asked to walk out during the Pentecost long-weekend (May 18th to 20th, including Sunday), and for all pharmacies across France to close on Thursday, May 30th.

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