France
Latest news and insights on France.
Franco-Swiss cold war breaks out over ski border car park
Switzerland and France are in a snowball fight over a cross-border car park which serves Swiss ski slopes but has been closed by the French due to the coronavirus pandemic.
UPDATE: French skiers to be banned from hitting Swiss slopes
France will take measures to stop skiers from sidestepping local virus restrictions and hitting the slopes in other countries during the Christmas holidays.
Bus shuttle service for French skiers in Switzerland risks stoking tensions
One of Switzerland's biggest ski resorts is set to launch a shuttle service to bus in skiers from nearby French ski stations in a move that could stoke tensions between authorities the two countries.
What Swiss residents need to do to avoid being fined in France
As dozens of Geneva residents have discovered recently, going from Switzerland to France is not as simple as it used to be. Here is what you should know before you cross the border.
Travel: Are neighbouring countries still open to Swiss tourists?
Borders between Switzerland and its neighbours are open. But given high coronavirus infection rates, border nations have tightened their entry requirements.
How will lockdowns in France and Germany affect Swiss residents?
While people in France and Germany hunker down for their second lockdowns in six months, the measures will have only minimal impact on those living on the Swiss side of the borders.
Will border workers in Switzerland be subjected to France’s curfew?
By adding two border regions of France to its list of departments affected by curfew restrictions, the French government limits the freedom of movement of those living close to the Swiss border.
UPDATED: Switzerland imposes quarantine on arrivals from regions of France, Italy and Austria
As of Monday, September 14th, travellers from nine areas of France will have to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Switzerland. However, border regions are exempted from the new rule.
Can Swiss residents continue to shop in France’s border regions?
On September 11th , Switzerland added nine French regions to its list of high-risk countries, meaning that arrivals from those areas must quarantine for 10 days. But what about those who cross the border for a shopping spree?
Switzerland quarantine: What you should know if you are travelling from France
Starting Monday, arrivals from nine French regions will have to self-quarantine in Switzerland for 10 days.
Could Switzerland force arrivals from France to go into quarantine ?
On Friday, the Federal Council is discussing the question of whether, due to the high number of infections in France, a quarantine obligation should be introduced for travellers from the country.
French border workers can continue to work from home for Swiss employers
A new agreement between Switzerland and France allows cross-border commuters based in France but employed in Switzerland to continue working from home until the end of the year without having to change their tax status.
Cross-border children from France can’t attend Swiss schools
When the Swiss school year resumes on August 24th, kids living in France won't be able to attend schools in Geneva, despite a legal battle.
'Yellow vest' protesters stage peaceful demo in Geneva
Hundreds of members of France's 'yellow vest' protest movement staged a peaceful demonstration outside the United Nations Office at Geneva on Wednesday, but numbers were far below organisers' expectations.
Switzerland's UBS faces €3.7-billion fine as crucial court ruling looms
A Paris court will rule Wednesday on whether Swiss banking giant UBS illegally tried to convince French clients to hide billions of euros in Switzerland, charges which prompted prosecutors to seek a record €3.7-billion fine.
Children of Nazis and their victims share family history to mark Holocaust
The moment may sound familiar to many; a family gathered around a kitchen table after the death of a parent, taking stock of the life that has ended.
French prosecutor calls for UBS to be fined €3.7 billion in tax fraud case
A French prosecutor on Thursday called for the Swiss UBS bank to be fined €3.7 billion (4.2 billion dollars) for "knowingly" helping French customers commit tax fraud.
Switzerland's first carpool lane opens in bid to fight traffic
Switzerland’s first carpool lane, and the first international carpool lane in Europe, has been opened along the Thônex-Vallard border crossing near Geneva.
France to pay Switzerland over 40 million francs in social welfare deal
France is to pay Switzerland 41.5 million francs after the two countries struck a deal to end a long-running dispute over social welfare payments.
LISTEN: Austria turns right, Venice bids for freedom, France stamps on sex pests
In this week's podcast we look at how Austria's government could soon include an ex-Nazi party. How right wing could it get?
Swiss flights affected by French strikes
Some flights into Geneva, Zurich and Basel airports were cancelled on Tuesday due to strikes involving air traffic controllers in France.
Switzerland welcomes Macron’s election but stresses hard road ahead
Switzerland’s press and politicians largely hailed the election of new French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday as good news, but warned it ushered in a new, unknown, era for France and potentially a hard period ahead.
Swiss bank deems Le Pen 'biggest risk' to Europe
France's Marine Le Pen is the biggest risk to European stability, Credit Suisse said in a guide launched on Thursday to help investors navigate the upcoming "defining" months facing the continent.