This French Life

More than eight million living in poverty

FIGURES from the national statistics office INSEE show that 13.5%, or 8.2 million people in France, are considered poor i.e. living on less than €954 per month.

The figures date from 2009 and gone on to claim that half of French people lived on less than €19,080 per year, an increase of 0.4 % compared to 2008.

The economic crisis and rising unemployment is being blamed for the difficulties families are facing, and even those self-employed saw a drop in their standard of living, which fell by 0.8% (to €22,400).

France's balanced budget rule too complicated say economists

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to push through a balanced budget amendment, dubbed the "golden rule", to reassure rattled markets, but economists complain the measure is too complicated.

via www.google.com

Perpignan, home to Visa Pour l’Image exhibition

DISCOVER the photographs behind many of the news headlines you see every day at the Visa Pour l’Image exhibition.

Running until 11 September, 2011 in Perpignan you can see the work of some of the world's leading photojournalists.

French unemployment at 11 year high

THE number of people out of work in France now stands at 2,756,500, up 1.3% in July and over the past year the number has increased by 2.8%.

French Asian hornet invasion claims first victims

The death of a man stung by an Asian hornet has exacerbated fears over the invasive species that has taken France by storm and could reach Britain within three years.

Patrice Verry, 38, was stung by one of the predators on Saturday after trying to wave it away with a kitchen towel at a barbecue in Lherm, in the Haute-Garonne region of southwestern France.

via www.telegraph.co.uk

Deficit plans set to change CGT on second homes in France

UPDATE 20 September, 2011: Update on changes to CGT on second homes in France

TO strengthen public finances in a context of slowing global growth, the French prime minister François Fillon presented last night steps expected to ensure, mainly through a 'fiscal effort', the reduction of the deficit by €1 billion this year and €11 billion in 2012, writes Guillaume Barlet.

Part of the measures taken will be considered by the French Cabinet on 31 August 2011 and submitted to the Parliament's vote in an Additional Finance Bill for 2011 to be discussed at the beginning of September.

Other measures will be taken by the end of the year in the Finance Bill and the Financing of Social Security Bill for 2012.

Increased taxes on rich, alcohol, tobacco and... fizzy pop

THE French prime minister, François Fillon, has announced €11 billion of austerity measures as the government looks to hold on to its AAA rating and reassure stock exchanges around the world.

A three per cent tax will be imposed on those earning more than €500,000 a year, measures to close tax loopholes will be introduced and taxation on alcoholic drinks, tobacco and sugary soft drinks will be increased.

François Fillon also said that he expects the French economy to grow by 1.75% this year, and the same in 2012, a large drop in comparison to the former 2% growth this year and 2.25% next that had been published in the past.

Related: Deficit plans set to change CGT on second homes in France

Strike action by French Eurotunnel staff

1203: Brittany Ferries still has limited space to and from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth.

1201: P&O Ferries is laying on extra Dover - Calais sailings over the Bank Holiday weekend in response to threatened industrial action at Eurotunnel.

Tourist passengers are advised to re-book with P&O Ferries so that they have a ferry reservation, rather than just turning up at Dover or Calais.

The company has the capacity throughout the weekend, particularly on departures at off-peak periods during the night or early morning sailings and will offer additional sailings at night when some of our ships are normally laid up.

25 August, 2011 at 1156: SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries has announced that it will be operating an additional 16 crossings for both car and freight traffic this bank holiday weekend, due to a huge surge in demand and the potential strike action from Eurotunnel employees.

SeaFrance advises passengers to book as soon as possible to guarantee a sailing. Customers can book at www.seafrance.com or by calling 0871 22 22 500.

1407: An email from the Eurotunnel sales support team says that due to the planned industrial action there will be disruption to services.

Eurotunnel is asking passengers to consider rebooking tickets as they are not able to confirm what time crossings will be over the weekend.

If passengers are able to travel at a later date amendments to bookings can be made free of charge on the following telephone numbers:

UK - 08443 35 35 35
France - 0321 00 61 00
Belgium - 070 22 32 10
Holland - 0900 5040540
Germany - 0180 500 0248

1136: Statement from SeaFrance - "In view of the planned strike action from Eurotunnel employees this Bank Holiday weekend, SeaFrance currently has space available on all sailings throughout the weekend to and from Dover and Calais. Passengers are advised to book as soon as possible as the company is already seeing an increase in bookings for the weekend.

"SeaFrance advises customers who have booked a crossing this weekend to use the M2/A2 route to the Port of Dover to avoid potential delays as a result of the Eurotunnel strike action."

1130: The Eurostar press team have emailed to say that they 'do not expect any significant disruption to our services'.

1017: One thing to consider if the strike action bites hard is the traffic problems likely to hit Kent and the Calais area.

Operation Stack may be put in place by Kent Police, which aims to control traffic flow on the M20, and the latest traffic news will be available through the Highways Agency and Bison Futé will be the site to watch on the French side of the Channel.

Be quick and save with Eurostar voucher codes

LOOKING to take a quick trip to France on the Eurostar? Well if you can travel there and back before 31 August, 2011 here are some voucher codes to help save you some cash.

The rich of France say 'tax us more'

JUST before the government outlines a new set of finance proposals, some of the richest people in France have said it's time they paid more.

L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt is one of the sixteen business representatives who have signed an open letter published by the Le Nouvel Observateur website.

The group of signatories say they believe they have benefited from a French system and a European environment 'which we hope to help maintain'.