News Digest: Hot Weather On The Way & ETIAS Fees More Than Double

August looks set to bring the heat in France with temperatures across the country predicted to exceed seasonal norms this week. While Paris, Toulouse, and Bordeaux all saw temperatures over 30°C yesterday (Monday), the mercury will continue to rise from tomorrow (Wednesday), and temperatures look likely to hit 40°C in Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Lyon by the weekend.

The scorching heat brings with it drought warnings across many areas of the country, so be sure to check whether your local commune has water restrictions in place. Much of the Mediterranean coast is also on orange alert for wildfires, with the Aude department on red alert.

This comes as Meteo France releases new data showing a steady increase in average temperature in France from 1970 to today. The data not only shows average temperatures throughout the year have increased by 1.7°C over the decades, but also provides clear evidence that summers in France are both getting hotter and bringing more frequent and severe heatwaves.

We reported back in June that France’s popular renovation grant, MaPrimeRénov, was being suspended temporarily in order to catch up on the backlog of applications and combat the increasing wave of fraudulent claims. But there’s good news for French residents looking to boost the energy efficiency of their property, as the scheme is set to reopen by the end of September.

There is a caveat: the reinstated scheme will initially open only to the lowest income households and will be limited to 13,000 new applicants for the final quarter of 2025. If that quota isn’t filled, it may open up to low-income households before the end of the year; otherwise, you’ll need to wait until 2026. The initial applications will also prioritize the properties with the greatest need of improvements – those with an E, F, or G classification on the diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE) scale.

The grants, which have been around since 2020, are means-tested and only available to French tax residents (so they can’t be accessed by second-home owners), and can be used for various home improvements, including ventilation systems, insulation, and heating systems that will improve the property’s energy efficiency rating.

France’s Property Renovation Grants or MaPrimeRénov: What Changes in 2025?

Hot on the heels of the recent announcement that the Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin its rollout this autumn (from the 12th October 2025), the EU has also confirmed its new plans for the long-awaited ETIAS visa-waiver program.

After several delays, the new proposed date for the start of the ETIAS online travel authorisation is now “the last quarter of 2026”, leaving plenty of time for EU countries and travellers to get used to the EES first. In addition to the new start date, the EU has also announced a fee increase – bumping the flat-rate fee for the ETIAS to €20 from the initially proposed €7.

Although this substantial fee increase has faced criticism, it is in line with other travel authorisation schemes, including the US ESTA, which currently costs US$21 (about €18) but is set to rise to US$40 (about €34), and the UK ETA, which currently costs £16 (about €19). The EU states that the increase in fees “aims to cover the operational costs of ETIAS, taking into account all its functionalities and inflation rates, and align the EU fee to the ones of other countries that have similar travel authorisation programmes”.

Prepare for these upcoming travel changes by reading our guides:

What Changes for Travel to France in 2025/26: EES, ETIAS, €20 Visa fees

Everything You Need to Know About the EU’s New Entry/Exit System (EES)

An outbreak of the deadly parvovirus (parvovirose) in the Puy-de-Dome department of central France has led to a nationwide call for dog owners to vaccinate their pets. The highly contagious disease is spread through direct contact, but also through contact with infected soil and surfaces, making it easily passed on to unvaccinated dogs. All dogs are at risk of the disease, but it particularly affects certain breeds, including Dobermans, Rottweilers, and Staffordshire terriers, who suffer a high fatality rate of 91%, and puppies are even more at risk.

The good news is that there is a vaccine available and it is part of the standard CHP vaccination protocol, which protects against Canine distemper, Hepatitis (caused by adenovirus), and Parvovirus. Most dogs are vaccinated as puppies, as recommended by vets, after which boosters are typically given every three years. However, it’s not a legal requirement for dog owners – the only obligatory vaccine in the EU is the rabies vaccine – so some dogs still remain unvaccinated.

If your dog hasn’t yet received these vaccinations or hasn’t had a booster in the last few years, consider this your reminder to take your dog to the vet! Better safe than sorry.

Owning a Pet in France: Vets, Vaccinations, and Responsibilities