-
Annual road worthiness tests proposed for vehicles in France over 10 years old
New rule proposed by European Commission in bid to cut pollution
-
Knifeman hunted after fatal stabbing at mosque in south of France
It is feared the killer could strike again
-
France's biggest-ever wind farm project blocked by court
Judges halt wind farm in Ardennes over residents' concerns of being completely encircled
France considers EU plan to cut copper coins
Plans to phase out one and two cent coins across the eurozone are included in the European Commission's new work programme
The French treasury is considering European plans to phase out one and two-cent coins in the coming years.
The plan, which was first put forward in 2013, has been raised again by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and is one of numerous initiatives put forward in the Commission's new work programme to cut bureaucracy and save money.
Increasingly, eurozone countries are adopting rounding policies. In Belgium, for example, rounding has been compulsory for all cash payments since December 1, 2019.
When the idea was first mooted, it was estimated that taking the coins out of circulation would save €1.4billion in manufacture, transportation and accounting costs.
At the beginning of 2020, it was estimated that there were more than 36billion one and two-cent coins in circulation.
Not all eurozone countries are in favour of the idea. Estonia recently decided to mint an extra 10million small denomination coins.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France