Global Scans · France · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Discontent with political elites and country performance is driving the discourse and demand for action from the French public. With Presidential elections due in May 2017 it remains to be seen whether another political earthquake may happen in one of the EU's founding countries.

• [New] The French reactor, following discussions with locals and relevant authorities, will be operational by the end of 2031, while the final investment decision for the first commercial power plant is expected around 2029. Energies Media
• [New] France, Austria, and Italy have called for ESMA to directly oversee major crypto firms, with France threatening to block cross-border licence passporting. Digital Watch Observatory
• [New] France will ensure that the announced commitments, particularly concerning humanitarian access and support for displaced people, are implemented in a manner consistent with current mediation efforts and the Washington Accords. France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
• [New] Ports groups from the UK, France and Ireland have formed a floating offshore wind alliance, with plans to expand worldwide to help unlock the energy technology's full potential. reNEWS - Renewable Energy News
• [New] German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron will join forces Tuesday to push for greater European digital sovereignty and less dependence on US tech titans as the AI race gathers pace.
• [New] Within the EU, the voice of business is being backed by French politicians who are attacking CBAM because it will inter alia push fertilizer prices even higher and heap more misery on farmers. NE Global Media
• [New] Users can now access MENU - ORDER AI in English, Spanish, French, and Chinese Simplified, with additional languages scheduled for early 2026. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] The digital valorization of French heritage and collections will be a privileged theme. Institut francais
• [New] Chinese export restrictions on critical minerals have led companies - such as France's Thales and Germany's Rheinmetall - to warn of higher costs as they restructure supply chains. Space War
• [New] Softening trading conditions in France could pull sales growth below the 6.1% guidance laid down in March. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] Weaker trading conditions in France could harm its largest holding, Action. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] Barrot stressed that France has direct interests and more than a million citizens in its Caribbean territories, who could be 'affected by the instability caused by any escalation'. Atalayar
• [New] Working with the Paris-headquartered multinational organization Thales presents an opportunity to strengthen the UAE-France cooperation in advanced science and technology. asdnews
• France itself will have to renew its private EV subsidy programme next year; Spain faces a similar deadline; and Italy's new scheme is tied to Recovery and Resilience Facility funding that expires in 2026. Centre for European Reform
• An AI tool from a French start-up could make it easier for people to 3D print missing or broken parts for everyday appliances, or even redesign their interiors. connexionfrance
• The next significant LNG project currently being planned is Papua-LNG, a project lead by the French oil and gas super-major TotalEnergies, with a final investment decision anticipated in late 2025. High Arctic Overseas Holding Corp.
• Arianespace Vega-C: KOMPSAT-7 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana KOMPSAT-7 will provide high-resolution satellite images for South Korea's governmental and institutional needs. KeepTrack
• The initial pilot is small, but France's transport ministry aims to electrify 9,000 kilometers of highways by 2035. DLA Piper
• French and Italian consumer electronics firms face inventory disruptions as Chinese shipments are rerouted through Southeast Asia. EconomicLens
• More recently, investors' perceptions of risk have focused on the deteriorating trajectory of fiscal fundamentals in France. EIN Presswire
• Political instability is rising, with populist parties gaining ground in Germany, France, and the UK, threatening fiscal cohesion and policy continuity. M-Wealth
• France's new space strategy will marry scientific research and security. Yahoo News Singapore

Last updated: 10 December 2025