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SNCF

Train strike to disrupt travel in France this weekend

France's train operator SNCF has announced that several high-speed TGV trains in the west of the country will be cancelled this weekend, as rail workers strike.

Published: 21 October 2021 17:09 CEST
Updated: 22 October 2021 15:02 CEST
A strike is set to disrupt train travel in western France from Friday, October 22nd.
A strike is set to disrupt train travel in western France from Friday, October 22nd. Photo: JACQUES DEMARTHON / AFP.

SNCF announced on Thursday that 1 in 10 of the TGV Atlantique trains would be cancelled on Friday October 22nd, while one in three trains would not be running on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, however, SNCF updated its traffic information to inform travallers that only one in five trains would in fact be cancelled on Saturday.

Services will be disrupted on Inoui and Ouigo TGV trains to and from Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Centre Val de Loire, Nouvelle Aquitaine, and Occitanie.

The CGT-Cheminots, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots trade unions instigated the strike action in protest over working conditions and pay.

Saturday marks the start of the Toussaint holidays in France, with all schoolchildren given two weeks off, so many people would have been set to head off on holiday this weekend.

“Every client who is affected will be contacted to inform them of the status of their train, and will be able to be reimbursed or exchange their ticket for another date at no extra fee. Travellers who are able to or who have not yet booked are invited to delay their journey until another date,” SNCF announced, according to Le Parisien.

The list of trains that are running should be available online and via the Assistant SNCF app by 5pm the day before at the latest.

There may also be modifications to regional TER train schedules in Brittany on Friday and Saturday – you can find out whether a train is running online.

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EU

How would a ‘youth mobility scheme’ between the UK and EU really work?

The EU and the UK could enter into a 'youth mobility' scheme allowing young people to move countries to work, study and live. Here's what we know about the proposal.

Published: 18 April 2024 17:09 CEST
How would a 'youth mobility scheme' between the UK and EU really work?

Across the 27 countries of the EU, people of all ages can move countries to work, study, spend a long visit or chase the possibility of love – and all this is possible thanks to EU freedom of movement.

That freedom no longer extends to the UK. As a result of Brexit, a UK national who wants to move to an EU country, or an EU citizen who wants to move to the UK, will need a visa in order to do so.

However, a new ‘mobility scheme’ could re-create some elements of freedom of movement, if the EU and UK can come to an agreement.

The European Commission on Thursday announced proposals for a ‘youth mobility scheme’.

Who would benefit?

First things first, it’s only for the youngsters, older people will have to continue with the time-consuming and often expensive process of getting a visa for study, work or visiting.

The Commission’s proposal is for a scheme that covers people aged 18 to 30. 

Their reasoning is: “The withdrawal of the UK from the EU has resulted in decreased mobility between the EU and the UK. This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges.

“The proposal seeks to address in an innovative way the main barriers to mobility for young people experienced today and create a right for young people to travel from the EU to the UK and vice-versa more easily and for a longer period of time.”

How would it work?

We’re still at an early stage, but the proposal is to allow extended stays – for young people to be able to spend up to four years in the EU or UK – under a special type of visa or residency permit. It does not, therefore, replicate the paperwork-free travel of the pre-Brexit era.

The Commission states that travel should not be ‘purpose bound’ to allow young people to undertake a variety of activities while they are abroad.

Under the visa system, people must travel to a country for a specific purpose which has been arranged before they leave – ie in order to study they need a student visa which requires proof of enrolment on a course, or if they intend to work they need a working visa which often requires sponsorship from an employer.

The proposal would allow young people to spend their time in a variety of ways – perhaps some time working, a period of study and then some time travelling or just relaxing.

It would also not be subject to national or Bloc-wide quotas.

It seems that some kind of visa or residency permit would still be required – but it would be issued for up to four years and could be used for a variety of activities.

Fees for this should not be “excessive” – and the UK’s health surcharge would not apply to people travelling under this scheme.

Are there conditions?

Other than the age qualification, the proposal is that young people would have to meet other criteria, including having comprehensive health insurance, plus financial criteria to ensure that they will be able to support themselves while abroad.

The visa/residency permit could be rejected on the ground of threats to public policy, public security or public health.

Will this happen soon?

Slow down – what’s happened today is that the European Commission has made a recommendation to open negotiations.

This now needs to be discussed in the Council of Europe.

If the Council agrees then, and only then, will the EU open negotiations with the UK on the subject. The scheme could then only become a reality if the EU and UK come to an agreement on the terms of the scheme, and then refine the fine details.

Basically we’re talking years if it happens at all, and there’s plenty of steps along the way that could derail the whole process.

Don’t start packing just yet.

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