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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

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

From yet more strikes to Saint Patrick's Day celebrations, movie screenings and the next phase of Paris Olympic ticket sales, here's what is happening in France this week.

On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week
The green illuminated basilica of the sacred heart (Sacre Coeur) on Saint Patrick's day in 2016 in Paris (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP)

Monday

Teacher walkouts – The SNUEP-FSU education union called on teachers to continue the mobilisation during the week, starting on Monday March 13th and onwards. As a reminder, striking elementary school teachers must give 48 hours notice beforehand.

Macron-Orbán dinner – The two European leaders will dine on Monday night together at the Elysée Palace. French President Emmanuel Macron and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have different perspectives on several topics, namely the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Tuesday

Rail delays – Even though SNCF rail workers have engaged in rolling strike action, some reports, namely those from France 3, indicate that rail workers will focus on Tuesday, March 14th for walkouts.

Navigo refunds – Ile-de-France residents who held a Navigo pass for public transport between September and December 2022 may be eligible for a refund of at least €37.60 in compensation for travel disruption in recent months. Some RER B and D passengers will be entitled to a larger refund. The process of applying for the refund opens on March 14th at the Ile-de-France Mobilities website. You can learn more HERE.

Wednesday

More strikes – although some French workers are taking part in rolling strikes (especially on the railways) Wednesday marks the next big one-day strike, which will see further disruption across the country and for international travellers, as well as another day of marches and demos across France.

You can find the latest information on service disruptions in our strike section HERE.

READ MORE: Calendar: The latest French pension strike dates to remember

Olympics tickets – registration opens for the next phase of Olympic ticket sales. This is once again done in the form of a draw, but this time to buy single event tickets, rather than packs of three as in phase 1. You have until April 20th to register to take part in the draw, and the lucky winners will be notified from May 11th. Full details on the ticket process HERE. 

Drought review – According to Franceinfo, the French environment ministry plans to review the drought situation again on March 15th, after they receive the rain forecast from Météo-France.

Thursday

Pensions bill – After being looked over by the joint committee on Wednesday, the bill heads back to the Assemblée Nationale for another vote. 

READ MORE: What next for France’s controversial pension reform bill?

Adventure Festival – The festival “Les Rendez-vous de l’Aventure” will begin on Thursday, March 16th and run until Sunday, March 19th in the Jura département in eastern France. The festival is an event for all filmmakers, freelancers, writers, and ‘explorers’ of all disciplines to meet, present their work and share their experiences with the public. Nearly 40,000 people have attended the event since it began in 2016. You can find more information on its website here.

Friday

Movie screening – For those living in the Paris area, Lost in Frenchlation will be putting on the French film Toi Non Plus tu n’as Rien Vu with English subtitles on Friday, March 17th at the Club de l’Étoile cinema at 14 Rue Troyon in Paris’ 8th arrondisement.

Drinks will begin at 7pm, and the screening will start at 8pm. Feel free to stick around after the film for a Q&A with the director. You can find tickets HERE.

Saint Patrick’s Day – Paris’ town hall will put on various events to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day, including dance events and festivities at the Irish cultural centre. You can find out more here.

Saturday

France v Wales – the French rugby team will take on Wales at the Stade de France in Paris, on the final day of the Six Nations tournament.

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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

What changes in France in May 2024

From four public holidays to the Olympic torch relay and tax deadlines - here's what is happening in France in May.

What changes in France in May 2024

Public Holidays

There are several public holidays in the month of May – this year, all four of them fall on weekdays, meaning workers can benefit from plenty of time off.

The first is International Worker’s Day, or May Day, which is on Wednesday, May 1st. Expect trade union demonstrations and marches and the giving of the lucky lily-of-the-valley flowers.

The other public holidays are Wednesday, May 8th (Victory in Europe Day), Thursday, May 9th (Ascension), and Monday, May 20th (Whit Monday, or lundi de Pentecôte) – although Pentecost is for some workers only

May 8th often involves military parades and remembrance events in towns and cities around France. This year will mark the 79th anniversary of the end of the war.

Elections deadline

If you are eligible to vote in the European elections, you should verify you are properly registered. May 1st is the deadline for online registrations, while May 3rd is the deadline for those sent by the post.

READ MORE: How to register in France to vote in the 2024 European elections

The elections themselves are in June.

Tax Deadlines

May also brings the first deadlines for the annual tax declaration – compulsory for almost everyone in France.

If you are unable to file the declaration online, you can use a paper declaration. This must be mailed by May 20th.

For the online declarations, you have until May 23rd (at 11.59pm) if you live in the départements 1 to 19, and until May 30th for the départements from 20 to 54. For the remaining départements, you have until June 6th at midnight.

READ MORE: The bumper French tax guide for 2024

Anniversaries

There are several anniversaries this May 2024 – from May 4th (the 100th anniversary of the 1924 Paris Olympic Games) to May 30th (the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel).

Increased medical costs

In January, the French government announced plans to double two healthcare expenses, the franchise médicale and the participation forfaitaire. The franchise médicale was already increased at the start of April, but the participation forfaitaire 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

Olympics events

The Olympic torch has already started its journey from Greece, and will arrive in Marseille on May 8th before beginning its relay around France. You can see the route here.

For Paris residents, if you live within the area closest to the Seine river, close to where the Opening Ceremony will be hosted, then you will need to register with a QR code for security purposes. The platform to do so will open on May 10th.

READ MORE: Which areas will be closed in Paris during the Olympics?

Assisted dying legislation

French President Emmanuel Macron announced in March that a bill on assisted dying will be presented to parliament before the summer.

Parliament is set to start examining it on May 27th. It follows a lengthy consultation via a citizens’ council of 184 French citizens, who came up with a series of measures to legalise “active assistance to dying”.

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.

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. 

Eurovision 

You can watch France compete in the Eurovision song contest in Sweden this year. The semi-finals are set for May 7th and May 9th (although France goes straight through to the finals every year as one of the ‘big five’ who fund the contest). The final is on Saturday, May 11th. France will be represented by the artist Slimane. 

READ MORE: 5 things to know about France’s 2024 Eurovision song

Sports

The final of the Coupe de France football tournament is on May 25th, with the time and location TBD.

The French Open (Roland-Garros) tennis tournament will also take place in May – starting on Sunday, May 26th and going until June 9th.

Mother’s Day and Neighbour’s Day

There are a couple of important days you won’t want to miss this May.

Mother’s Day in France will fall on May 26th, though if your mother is in the UK you may have already missed it (it was on March 10th). For Americans, Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday of May – so be sure to mark May 12th in your calendar.

Then there is also Neighbour’s Day, or the Fête des Voisins, which is the perfect opportunity to say hello to your neighbours. This year it will take place on May 31st. 

READ MORE: Fête des Voisins: All you need to know about ‘neighbours day’ in France

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