French air-traffic controllers call four-day strike, 1,800 flights to be axed
Violent storms cut power to 63,000 homes and cripple Transilien services
Public demonstrations to disrupt Paris bus and Roissy shuttle routes this afternoon
Latest News
Eurostar runs limited timetable 27–28 June; engineering works and residual heat delays hit cross-Channel travel
Eurostar has cancelled or curtailed several Paris-London trains on 27–28 June owing to engineering works and lingering heat-related speed restrictions, offering fee-free rebooking but no reciprocal acceptance on domestic TGVs. Travellers should expect constrained seat supply into early week.
France and Italy block proposed EU Schengen ban on ex-Russian combatants
At an EU ambassadors’ meeting on 25–26 June, France and Italy objected to a draft measure to deny Schengen visas to Russian combat veterans, citing legal, technical and economic concerns. Their resistance delays adoption of the 21st sanctions package and leaves travel suppliers guessing about future rules for Russian visitors. Companies moving staff through France should brace for possible processing slow-downs and stricter document checks.
France blocks EU plan to ban former Russian combatants from Schengen visas
A coalition of Nordic-Baltic states wants the EU to impose an automatic Schengen-visa ban on Russians who have performed military service, but France and Italy blocked consensus at the first discussion on 26 June. Paris argues that the rule would punish ordinary conscripts and overload French consulates, which already issue the largest number of Russian visas. The dispute leaves the proposal in limbo and signals that firms relying on Russian travellers will still be able to obtain visas—albeit after stricter individual checks.
France and Italy block proposed EU visa ban on Russian combatants
Euronews reports that on 26 June 2026 France and Italy refused to support an EU proposal to ban visas for Russian combatants, arguing that blanket exclusions breach EU law. The decision preserves the current case-by-case screening system, avoiding an immediate shutdown of business-related travel for Russian nationals to France. Companies should still expect strict security checks and longer visa lead times.
France Blocks EU Plan to Deny Schengen Visas to Russian Combat Veterans
The EU is debating a new rule to bar Russian combat veterans from obtaining Schengen visas, but France (backed by Italy) is resisting on legal, technical and economic grounds. Paris processes more Russian visa applications than any other EU country and fears the proposal would be hard to enforce, hurt the tourism economy and trigger lawsuits. A compromise — possibly centred on better databases or extra questions on visa forms — must be found before sanctions talks conclude in mid-July.
Paris bans take-away alcohol and curtails public events as record heatwave strains emergency services
Amid France’s worst June heatwave on record, Paris has banned take-away alcohol sales and public drinking, shortened museum hours and urged organisers to scale back events. The emergency measures, announced at noon on 26 June, aim to cut heat-related hospital admissions and free up overstretched ambulance crews. Travellers face fines for drinking in public and should expect last-minute schedule changes at cultural sites and airports.
EU imposes visa restrictions on Somalia; French consulates extend processing to 45 days
The EU has activated visa-leverage measures against Somalia, meaning French consulates must stop issuing multiple-entry Schengen visas, abolish fee waivers and can take up to 45 days to decide applications. The change forces French companies and universities that frequently host Somali nationals to pad timelines and consider alternative permit routes.
Schengen gears up for 2026 security overhaul: France confirms AI-driven risk scoring in ETIAS roll-out
France and four other core Schengen states announced on 26 June a coordinated plan to tighten external-border controls ahead of next year’s Entry/Exit System and ETIAS launch. Paris will pilot an AI-based risk-scoring engine that speeds low-risk authorisations while flagging suspicious applications for manual review. Airlines that install biometric kiosks will gain ‘trusted carrier’ status, but businesses should prepare staff for longer checks at French ports during the transitional period.
Air France halts Paris–Kinshasa flights after Ebola case; enhanced health screening at CDG
After a confirmed Ebola case on a 23 June flight, Air France has suspended Paris–Kinshasa services for 48 hours and introduced medical clearance requirements. CDG has deployed health-screening lanes, and mobility managers should expect possible delays or rerouting for staff travelling from Central Africa.
Franco-Italian summit unlocks funding path for Marseille–Nice–Genoa rail corridor
France and Italy have elevated the Marseille–Nice–Genoa rail axis to EU priority status, clearing the way for CEF funding and faster cross-border passenger services. The declaration also revives the Alpine rolling-highway and accelerates tunnel upgrades, signalling long-term improvements for business travellers and freight flows between the two countries.
Record heatwave forces temporary shutdowns of Nogent-sur-Seine and Bugey reactors; rail operators cut speeds
Extreme heat on 25–26 June shut down two French nuclear reactors and forced rail and airline operators to slow or reroute services. The disruptions underline rising climate-related business-travel risks and the need for contingency planning by employers with staff on the move in France.
Diamond League meet in Paris goes ahead under heat-adapted format after police call for cancellation
After police sought to cancel Paris’s Diamond League meet because of the ongoing heatwave, organisers struck a deal on 26 June to run the event in a stripped-down format with limited spectators, delayed gate opening and extra cooling measures. The compromise averts a scramble for travel re-routing but imposes new entry checks and insurance requirements, illustrating how extreme weather now directly impacts inbound mobility and event logistics.
RER D details emergency heatwave plan: slower schedules, on-board water and real-time rail-temperature checks
SNCF has published detailed mitigation measures for the RER D during the ongoing heatwave, including speed restrictions, extra maintenance and passenger hydration. The blueprint offers a preview of how French rail services may routinely adapt to extreme temperatures, affecting daily mobility for residents and travelling employees alike.
Ironman France-Nice race brings 28 June road closures, including airport coastal access
Road orders published on 26 June confirm that the Ironman France-Nice triathlon will shut key coastal routes—including the airport access road—on 28 June. Travellers must budget extra time or adjust arrival dates, and mobility managers should update ground-transport instructions for staff headed to Nice.