Expatriates already living in Paris or moving to the city will have to learn to take their foot off the accelerator pedal as the Mayor this week introduced a new speed limit of 19 mph (30 kph) for most of the roads.
City authorities hope that the new speed limit will make the Paris a safer and cleaner city as the mayor tries to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport. The 30 kph limit already applies to about 60% of the Paris area but the new speed limit will now cover the entire city. Only a few streets will remain exempt from the rules, including the Champs Elysees, with the speed limit remaining at a speedy 31 mph (50 kph)!
Paris joins other French cities such as Bordeaux, Strasbourg, and Toulouse with a similar 19 mph limit.
The mayor of Paris, who won a second six-year term in 2020, has built new bike lanes, banned old diesel cars, and is reducing parking space in the city in a bid to limit car traffic. Paris authorities have said police will be lenient in applying the new speed limit in the first weeks of the new rules.
Health Pass for French Workers
Starting this week approximately 2 million French workers in restaurants and other service jobs must now show a health pass to go to work.
The new law, that is part of the government’s strategy to fight the pandemic, means that affected workers must show proof of vaccination, a fresh negative virus test or recovery from COVID-19, or risk suspension from work. Businesses that do not comply with the law could face fines.
While protests continued this weekend against the Health Pass law, less marchers turned out to voice their opposition and polls have shown that most French citizens support the Health Pass. At the current time, nearly 72% of French people have had at least one virus dose and more than 64% are fully vaccinated. The public is already required to show a Health Pass to enter restaurants and cafes, cultural venues, sports arenas and for long-distance travel.
The law will also make vaccinations mandatory for French health workers by September 15.
France Waits on EU-USA Advisory
The European Union this week recommended that member countries ban American citizens from non-essential travel to the EU after a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in the United States.
Countries within the EU, including France, have been advised to put in place coronavirus-related restrictions to prevent the arrival of tourists and other non-essential travel from six additional countries including the USA.
So, does this affect customers moving to France?
The short answer is NO.
Customers moving to France with a work visa have always been allowed to enter the country throughout the pandemic. For the time being, current arrival requirements (for both tourists and work visa holders) are the need to show a vaccination certificate or a recent negative Covid test upon arrival and there is no need to quarantine.
The European Union travel advisory is not mandatory on member states, and it is up to each country in Europe to determine its own rules on borders. It is possible that France may accept the EU advisory to prevent tourism, but this will not affect moves in process or future relocation activity.
