This French Life

Winter fuel payment petition breaks through 12,000 signatures

THE online petition to stop the UK government's plan to end winter fuel payment for expats in countries seen as too warm, including France, has reached more than 12,000 signatures.

Having gone beyond 10,000 signatures the government will have to reply to the petition, however for the issue to be raised in parliament the petition will have to see 100,000 back it before its close in June 2014.

But the fight is continuing to highlight how wrong the UK government's decision to end the payment is, especially after it was found that the weather statistics it used drew in average temperatures from the French DOM-TOM territories.

These are made up of the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion and Mayotte and French Guiana in South America, and are home to just 30 people receiving UK pensions.

If the proposals pass through parliament it will mean eligibility for winter fuel payments would end for those living in France from the winter of 2015/16.

Record number of forced evictions of Roma by French authorities

The French government has failed to end the vicious circle of repeated forced evictions of Roma which have now reached record numbers, Amnesty International said in a report published today. The organization is calling for a ban on all forced evictions.

More than 10,000 Roma were evicted from informal settlements during the first half of 2013.  

"France makes no provisions for effective protection against forced evictions. In most cases they take place in a climate of hostility with no alternative housing proposed.

"Roma people are condemned to a life of constant insecurity, and forced to wander from one of makeshift camp to another. Forced evictions should be banned in law," said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.

via www.amnesty.org

French Constitutional Council hears appeal to overturn fracking ban

AMERICAN oil company, Schuepbach, is challenging the ban in France on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, through the Constitutional Council.

A lawyer representing Schuepbach has said the law currently blocking fracking has gone beyond its remit, with the current 'precautionary principle' requiring the technique to prove its safety.

Yet Schuepbach say that with fracking having been used 45 times in France, and no problems or issues noted, the ban on hydraulic fracturing should be lifted.

The Constitutional Council will make a decision on 11 October, and it seems likely that even if the case is found in favour of Schuepbach the government will maintain the ban.

Related: Shale gas in France

French budget: tax rises and spending cuts

France is raising taxes and cutting government spending, in an attempt to lower its deficit next year.

As predicted, next year's budget will include €15bn of cuts to public spending, and €3bn from tax rises and a clampdown on tax evasion.

That's on top of a planned increase in the sales tax, that should being in another €6bn.

via www.theguardian.com

Hollande first to break the ice with Iran’s Rohani

French President François Hollande became the first Western leader to meet newly-elected Iranian President Hassan Rohani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, in what could signal a modest thawing in relations between the Islamic Republic and the West.

Heading into the closed-door meeting, Hollande said it expected “concrete gestures” by Iran to show it will give up a military nuclear programme, echoing cautious statements by US President Barack Obama.

A French presidential source said the 40-minute meeting had been polite and courteous and centred on Iran’s nuclear programme, the crisis in Syria and neighbouring Lebanon, where Tehran has considerable influence over the armed Shiite group Hezbollah.

via www.france24.com

News stops: Britons in French drugs bust; Sikhs want their children to wear turbans in school

A LOOK over the headlines from France.

Three Britons arrested in France's biggest ever cocaine bust
Three Britons are among nine people arrested after French police seized almost 1.4 tonnes of cocaine smuggled on an Air France flight from Venezuela, in the biggest haul of the drug ever made in mainland France.

France's Sikhs want right to wear turbans in schools
Sikhs in France want their children to be allowed to attend school wearing a turban and they're hoping for an exemption to the ban on religious symbols in French state schools.

Sarkozy's ex-wife to publish memoirs next month
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cecilia Attias, who was a key advisor in his victorious 2007 campaign but divorced him soon after, will publish a highly-awaited autobiography next month, her editor said Monday.

Parker guides France to European basketball gold
NBA star Tony Parker led France's basketball team to its first major title on Sunday, inspiring the French squad's 80-66 defeat of Lithuania in the final of the European Championship.

France set to end up-front GP fees

THE French health minister, Marisol Touraine, has announced that by 2017 up-front payments to GPs will no longer be required.

Changes are set to be brought in from next year for those on low incomes, and will be extended to all by the end of 2017, so that direct payments occur via the Carte Vitale as already occurs in pharmacies.

Marisol Touraine also said that around 300 multi-disciplinary health centres will be created in corners of France where medical cover is lacking.

And medical staff will receive cash incentives to work in these so-called 'medical deserts'.

Government offers advice and cash help to boost home insulation

THE government has launched a new initiative to cut heating costs in French homes with points of contact across the country providing advice and information.

A website, http://www.renovation-info-service.gouv.fr/, offers up a freephone number, as well as a geographical search, to provide contacts that are able to offer advice on insulating existing homes.

There will also be cash support for those looking to go ahead with work, dependent upon revenue levels, with the government targeting 500,000 renovations by 2017.

Today, François Hollande said that from 2014 a reduction in TVA from 10% to 5% would apply on all work that looked to improve energy efficiency in homes.

Related: Energy costs in French countryside 23% higher than in cities

Harry Shindler's votes for expats case blocked by European Court of Human Rights

HARRY Shindler's flight to ensure that UK expats retain their right to vote in British parliamentary elections beyond 15 years has been dealt a blow.

The European Court of Human Rights has notified his solicitor, Oliver & Partners, that a panel of five judges of the Grand Chamber decided on 9 September not to accept Harry Shindler's request that his case be referred to the Grand Chamber.

No reasons were given for this decision, but the consequence is that the judgement of 7 May, finding that the disenfranchisement of Harry Shindler resulting from the 15 year rule was not a violation of Art 3 Protocol 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights, is now considered final.

Harry Shindler, pictured, said he intends to continue with his campaign for the right to vote in UK national elections and referendums and intends to petition the United Nations as he also believes that his disenfranchisement is in violation of the Universal Charter of Human Rights (Art.21).

Earlier this month a representative group from across Europe, including France, led by 93-year-old Harry Shindler had a meeting with Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.

The group came together to press the Commission to take further action to ensure EU citizens living in another EU country enjoy the right to vote in national elections of their country of origin.

Viviane Reding insisted that the practice in some Member States of depriving their citizens of their right to vote once they moved to another EU country - disenfranchisement - is effectively tantamount to punishing citizens for having exercised their right to free movement.

Website: Votes for Expat Brits

News stops: Renoir sale raises £800,000; Google cash for French press; Daft Punk success

A QUICK look over some of the news headlines from France.

Renoir works fetch £800,000
Pierre-Auguste Renoir auction of works and personal items fetch £800,000 at New York auction.

Google launches €60m fund to help French media sites
Google has launched a €60 million (£50.5m) fund today to help French media develop their online presence, bringing an end a clash over royalty payments.

French minister attacks German wage policy
Days before Germany goes to the polls, a French economy minister has called for German wages to be raised in order to ensure fairer competition.

Drones proposed to tackle Marseille crime
A mayoral candidate has proposed the use of drones over the streets of Marseille to combat the city's notorious network of drug dealers and reputation for violent crime.

Daft Punk success sparks French record industry revival
Success of enigmatic duo's Random Access Memories album helps industry post first positive results in a decade.

Air France plans to cut further 2,800 jobs to stem financial losses
Airline seeks to balance its books by offering fewer flights within France and cutting 5% of its workforce.