The Connexion 248 - June 2023 e-Paper | Subscribers can find their copy in My Account

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What's inside this month's edition

On the front page

Senators back proposal for second-home owner visas
Lawmakers want to ease red tape for six-month stays

Banks must refund card fraud victims more easily
Banks have been reminded by the Banque de France of their obligations to refund clients who fall victim to card fraud, usually within 24 hours

Car test change
The number of checks undertaken during the contrôle technique car roadworthiness test has increased to 136

Practical advice and updates for living in France

Appeal for help over son’s tragic ski resort death
The family of a man found dead during a ski holiday in Haute-Savoie last year are still appealing for anyone with information to get in touch

28 departments at high risk of summer drought
A total of 28 departments are judged at ‘high risk’ of drought this summer, while it is at least ‘probable’ in 42 others
Nazi victim identified 79 years after assassination
A group of local historians have identified a man known only as ‘X’ on their village war memorial as pharmacy technician Robert Rosengarten and added his name to the monument
The EU flag is no longer a symbol of peace in Europe
Journalist Nabila Ramdani gives her opinion on what the EU flag represents today
New health law aims to cut wait to see nurses
Health professionals have welcomed a new law that will allow patients to see certain nurses and specialists without having to visit a GP first
Native American tribe featured in new DiCaprio film has a special link with south-west France
New Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is centred on the indigenous Osage tribe in Oklahoma – but the tribe also has a special link with a town in south-west France
Eco-grant issues continue to mount
A subsidy scheme for eco-friendly home renovation work continues to be marred by complaints from applicants and a reluctance among building professionals to become accredited
Website bug reported on P&O system
P&O is investigating a bug on its website that prevents people from providing advance passen ger information – such as passport details – after booking
French still like to pay in cash
Half of all payments in French shops (so excluding online purchases) are still made using cash, a European Central Bank survey found
How 90/180 rule is affecting travellers
Members of the France Visa Free campaign group have shared examples of how they have been affected by the EU’s 90/180-day rule since Brexit

Our financial writer answers your money queries on page 33

You can find more information on managing your money in France in our Money and Tax section on pages 33 and 34, and online 

Readers' questions answered

• Can my British mother live with us?
• Are there better offers during ventes privées or the soldes?
• Can I get an eye test at an opticians?
• How close to my neighbour’s fence can I build a shed?
• Can I have car serviced by another dealer without risking its warranty?

French living

Celebrate haggis, whisky, and the Auld Alliance at a Celtic festival near you
We discovers the ancient friendship between Scotland and France lives on through a host of festivals in the Hexagon, with traditional music, games, and men in kilts

‘There is no such thing as different male or female composition styles’
Women composers have been written out of the historical record. We talk to cellist Héloïse Luzzati about how she is putting these forgotten female musicians back in the spotlight
Limousin in bloom: Open Gardens scheme welcomes visitors in June
This is a prime month to explore gardens for a good cause. We showcase two gems in Creuse and Haute-Vienne
‘It is in tough times that we need to roll up our sleeves’
We talk to Nicolas Sarkozy’s former communications chief, Thierry Saussez, about his brainchild Villes & Villages: où il fait bon vivre, and his business that aims to defeat French pessimism

More in the June edition

Property: Number of sales falls, prices generally steady
Society: Medieval saucepan symphonies
Food and drink: Cook like a Michelin chef
Language: Du coup, filler words in French are ‘not new’
Nature: Salamanders and singing toads

Senators back proposal for second-home owner visas
Lawmakers want to ease red tape for six-month stays
Banks must refund card fraud victims more easily
Banks have been reminded by the Banque de France of their obligations to refund clients who fall victim to card fraud, usually within 24 hours
Car test change
The number of checks undertaken during the contrôle tech nique car roadworthiness test has increased to 136