With large-scale protests scheduled nationwide on Saturday, 24 October 2026, France’s Interior Ministry has instructed prefectures to deploy “operational flow controls” at rail hubs, motorway choke-points and selected internal borders. In a communiqué issued late on 23 October, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the aim was to intercept individuals “considered at risk” of violence and to seize objects that could be used as improvised weapons. The directive empowers police to set up mobile identity-check zones in and around TGV stations such as Paris-Gare-de-Lyon and Lyon-Part-Dieu, as well as on access roads to demonstration sites. Border police (PAF) teams have been told to increase spot checks on Eurostar and Thalys arrivals and to coordinate with Belgian and Spanish counterparts to track organised groups travelling by coach. For international travellers, the immediate consequences are longer queues and a higher likelihood of random bag inspections. The Interior Ministry insists that EU freedom-of-movement rules remain intact, but warns that travellers unable to justify the purpose of their visit may be refused entry if officers believe they intend to join unlawful actions. Airlines flying into Paris-CDG have been asked to remind passengers of France’s prohibition on carrying face coverings intended to conceal identity during public gatherings. Corporate mobility managers should factor in possible delays of up to 60 minutes when arranging airport transfers or same-day onward meetings on 24 October. Employees with diplomatic or service passports are not exempt from screening, although priority lanes will remain open at Charles-de-Gaulle. The ministry says controls will be lifted gradually from midnight Saturday “once public order is assured.” The move reflects France’s expanded use of targeted internal border measures introduced during the 2024 Olympic security build-up and now embedded in the draft RIPOST law. While business-travel stakeholders generally support short, intelligence-led checks, industry groups have urged the government to communicate timelines clearly to avoid deterring investors and trade-show participants.
Source: Ministère de l’Intérieur
