This French Life

French unemployment hits record high

It's official, the French unemployment crisis has worsened with another 39,800 people registered as jobless in April.

That takes the total out of work to work to 3,264,400 the highest level since records began in 1996.

via www.guardian.co.uk

Neelie Kroes aims to end mobile roaming fees in 2014

We can't afford in Europe all the countless, needless, artificial obstacles placed in the way of a telecoms single market

— Neelie Kroes (@NeelieKroesEU) May 30, 2013

THE Vice-President of the European Commission, Neelie Kroes, has unveiled plans to bring an end to mobile roaming charges, as well as guarantee net neutrality.

In a speech outlining her thoughts on a single telecoms market, Neelie Kroes, said that the internet was one technology that should not be restricted by national boundaries.

"Markets must function, devices must function, networks must function and investment needs to happen. We can't afford today's countless, needless, artificial obstacles placed in the way," said Neelie Kroes.

Website: The politics of completing the telecoms single market

French property prices '34% too high' says OECD

A STUDY by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) claims that property prices in France are 34% too high.

In its research the OECD compared property prices with local wages and rents, and found that France was the fifth most expensive country behind Belgium, Norway, Canada and New Zealand.

The UK was placed eight with its property prices deemed to be 26.5% too high.

EU challenges France to make changes to its economy

FRANCE, and a number of other European countries have been given a pass on hitting their budget deficits by the European Commission.

The Commission has published a report into eurozone members, and whilst a three per cent budget deficit target has long existed, France has been given another two years to reach it.

In its report the European Commission admitted that the current austerity measures, designed to ensure countries hit the three per cent target, are not working and so has decided to cut some slack to a number.

Specifically, France has been given six recommendations to follow, three of those involve improving the competitiveness of the economy, but also demands to bring more transparency to the tax system as well as improve the employment rate amongst older workers.

News stops: Arrest in soldier stabbing, first gay wedding, youth job plans

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A woodland tale from the journée champêtre

AT the Journée Champêtre à Loubejac, Simone and I had set up the table for the snacks, or the casse-croûtes, as they are called for both the horses and their riders, writes Carol Miers.

A month earlier, the discussion around the choice of casse-croûte had taken a good twenty minutes at the commitée de fête meeting. Its English translation is explicit meaning broken crust, and not grimy crust as I had thought, as in 'crasse-croûte'.

Before long, under chestnuts beside the chevaux and pedestrian route the tables were set up and people trickled in, lashing their horses on one of two ropes hitched between trees at the back of the glade.

Time limit on auto-entrepreneur status looking likely

IT is looking likely that a time limit will be placed on how long a person can register their business under the auto-entrepreneur scheme.

According to Le Figaro, the minister responsible for artisans, commerce and tourism, Sylvia Pinel, will put forward proposals in September for a two-speed system.

In April, Sylvia Pinel said she was open to discussions on a time limit for auto-entrepreneurs should their business be their principal way of earning an income.

Whilst no limit would be introduced for those people registering to undertake supplementary work to support an existing job.

And according to a press release from Sylvia Pinel it looks as though this will be the chosen option, with promises of support and training for those having to leave the scheme after the time limit.

Critics of the auto-entrepreneur system, including representatives of the artisan sector, have said it creates unfair competition between those registered in the classic system and auto-entrepreneurs.

Bike routes for France added to Google Maps

FRANCE is just one amongst a number of European countries that now has cycle routes available as an option in Google Maps.

The team behind Google Maps says that they have added information about bike trails, lanes and recommended roads directly to the map, in some countries they have worked with partner organisations.

As the season of big bike races in Europe has started, why not check what route Google suggests for a historical stage of the Tour de France?

Our bicycle route for the classic stage from Biarritz to Bordeaux navigates on 206 beautiful, often car-free kilometers close to the Atlantic Ocean, compared to the rather boring 206 kilometers on the N10/A63 which is suggested for cars.

To see the biking directions service, launch maps on an Android device, pick the biking directions option and 'Bicycling' layer, then ask Google Maps for directions.

Lack of a local petrol station means more driving for some

NEARLY four million people in France are threatened by the lack of a petrol station close to their home, claims the Fédération nationale de l'artisanat automobile (Fnaa).

The organisation says that the risk of so-called 'désertification', or the closure of petrol stations, means that 300,000 people have no station within ten minutes drive.

For around 3.6 million others, the same situation would occur should their nearest petrol station be forced to close.

The Fnaa warn that it is not just a problem in the countryside, as a number of residents in Paris face a similar journey time to fill up their vehicles.

And with increased environmental standards set to come into force at the end of 2013, Fnaa believes more petrol stations could close.

In 2012 there were 12,300 petrol stations in France, in comparison to 47,500 in 1975.

Related: Website helps find cheap petrol prices in France

French consumer confidence at lowest since July 2008

IF François Hollande was hoping to get a bit of an economic lift from the French public, it looks as though his luck is out.

The latest figures from statistics office, INSEE, show that consumer confidence in France is currently at its lowest level since the dark days of July 2008.

Figures for May show that people expect unemployment to increase, their expectations for the future economic situation are also sliding and many expect to see inflation increase in the coming months.

With unemployment numbers hitting record levels, and this month's figures expected to reinforce the general feeling of stagnation, François Hollande faces a climb up a forever steepening mountain.