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2024 bank holiday dates in France and how they are celebrated
There are technically 13 bank holidays in 2024 in France - and some are only celebrated in one area. Here are the dates to note
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Property taxes, car sales, pharmacy strike: 5 French practical updates
Our round-up of recent practical articles you may have missed
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Gironde department wants 1,000 km of new cycle paths by 2030
Authorities hope the lanes will encourage more young people to cycle to school
Brexit and Britons in France - 02/2019 updates
Latest updates on Brexit
Register to vote
In view of the possibility of a second Brexit referendum, it is important that Britons in France make sure they are registered to vote if they have been living here for less than 15 years and want to take part.
British Embassy meeting
There will be a British Embassy outreach meeting at Annemasse, Haute-Savoie, on February 11.
See bit.ly/2SPjNCI.
Agreement with Switzerland
The UK has signed an agreement with Switzerland duplicating expatriate rights aspects of the rejected Brexit deal. It guarantees the rights of British people there, whether or not there is a Brexit deal.
It has also agreed a similar deal with the EEA/Efta countries, ie. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
A DExEU Brexit Ministry spokesman said the guarantee for Britons in Switzerland was possible because the deal is much simpler than the main withdrawal deal (no ‘divorce payment’, no questions over the Northern Ireland border etc).
The UK has made a “verbal agreement” to maintain citizens’ rights aspects with EEA/Efta, but it is more complex because that deal contains extra items linked to the main Brexit deal, such as on judicial cooperation.
As for Britons in the EU, DExEU says it is encouraged by French promises to protect Britons’ rights if there is reciprocity, as it says it intends to “guarantee protection of EU citizens in the UK, ensuring residency and several other rights”.