-
Fréjus Tunnel that connects France and Italy to close this weekend
The tunnel will close for 12 hours and not the 56 hours originally announced
-
TotalEnergies opens service station for electric vehicles in Paris
It is the first of its kind in the capital and has ultra-fast charging
-
Conductors on French public transport will soon be able to check your address
Move is part of anti-fraud plans to prevent people from giving false information during fines including on SNCF trains
French police will retain pension rights: Minister
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tells police unions that officers will retain their current rights in the government's planned pension reforms
Police unions have received an assurance from Interior Minister Christophe Castaner that officers will keep their current pension rights in the government's planned reforms.
On the eve of the December 5 strike, Mr Castaner wrote a letter to union leaders, which has been seen and republished by franceinfo, to say that police will retain "their rights to early retirement" and "pension levels comparable to current pensions" in the future pension reform..
"Specificities will be preserved for civil servants who carry out sovereign missions of security and public order", Mr Castaner said in the letter. "Early retirement rights will remain open as they are today."
He added that reforms will "make it possible to maintain retirement levels comparable to current pensions" for police officers.
"These guarantees will be included in the future bill creating the universal pension system", he concluded.
Union bosses gave the letter a cautious welcome. Denis Jacob, general secretary of the syndicat Alternative Police CFDT said it demonstrated progress, but added: "We still have questions and concerns."
Several police unions, including Alliance and Unsa, have called for rolling action from Thursday in all police services, including the symbolic closure of police stations, a refusal to write fines, and tighter controls at airports and tolls. However, they do not intend to join the protest processions.
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