Student Protests, Fuel Shortages and New Driving Rules: News Digest

Student protests, rising fuel prices and tougher driving rules are among the latest stories making headlines in France this week. There are also questions over energy efficiency rules following another summer of extreme heat, while the head of the Eiffel Tower is set to step down after a controversy involving female staff. Here’s what you need to know.

Strikes and demonstrations expected as student protests continue

French unions have called for a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations on Tuesday, October 6, in support of lycée pupils protesting over a lack of resources in schools. The student protests, which began last month and have made headlines around the world, have already resulted in hundreds of schools being partially or completely closed.

Around 500 schools were expected to be affected by the protests on Monday, with further disruption anticipated as demonstrations take place in cities across France. In Paris, a large student demonstration is planned from Place de la République on Tuesday afternoon, with possible disruption to roads and public transport in the area.

The protests are focused on funding and staffing levels in education, with students calling for improved conditions in schools. Unions have also backed the action, adding to the wider wave of industrial unrest seen in France in recent weeks.

Salvador Dalí book cover stolen from French art centre

A 150kg bronze cover created by Salvador Dalí has been stolen from a contemporary art centre in Issoire, in the Puy-de-Dôme. The theft took place overnight between Sunday and Monday, October 4–5.

The elaborate bronze cover, decorated with gold, precious stones and seashells, forms part of L’Apocalypse, a unique illustrated book created between 1958 and 1961. The complete work weighs around 210kg and features contributions from artists and writers including Dalí, Jean Cocteau, Bernard Buffet and Jean Giono.

The cover alone is valued at several million euros and was once associated with claims that L’Apocalypse was the world’s most expensive book. The book itself was kept separately and remains safe. Gendarmes in Clermont-Ferrand are investigating the theft.

Fuel prices rise as shortages continue

Fuel prices in France have risen again, with shortages continuing to affect petrol stations across the country. Around 15 per cent of French service stations are currently reporting shortages of at least one type of fuel, according to the latest figures.

Average prices have reached €2.38 per litre for diesel, €2.17 for SP95-E10 and €2.28 for SP98. The situation is linked to continued disruption in global oil markets and tensions in the Middle East.

Drivers are advised to check fuel availability before setting out, particularly in areas where shortages are more widespread.

France to suspend licences for drivers caught using phones

Drivers in France face tougher penalties for using a mobile phone behind the wheel. Following pilot schemes in several départements, authorities are now extending driving licence suspensions nationwide.

The existing €135 fine and three-point penalty will continue to apply, while drivers caught using their phones in certain circumstances can also face a licence suspension.

The rules cover handheld phone use while driving, including making calls, sending messages, browsing the internet and taking photographs or videos.

Eiffel Tower chief to step down after staff controversy

The head of the company operating the Eiffel Tower is set to step down at the end of 2026 following a controversy over the treatment of female staff during a private visit by members of the BAPS Hindu organisation.

Female employees were removed from the landmark during the visit on September 5, prompting a staff walkout and widespread criticism in France. An internal investigation subsequently found that the situation was unacceptable.

Patrick Branco Ruivo, who has headed the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel since 2018, will leave his position at the end of the year. The company has also announced measures and training aimed at promoting gender equality.

DPE rules could change after extreme summer heat

France could make further changes to its energy performance certificates, or DPEs, following this summer’s repeated heatwaves.

The DPE is required when properties are sold or rented long-term, but this year’s extreme temperatures have highlighted a weakness in the current system: homes can receive an excellent energy efficiency rating while still becoming extremely hot during summer.

The issue has prompted discussion about whether the certificates should take greater account of summer comfort, including how effectively homes can stay cool.

The phenomenon has even given rise to a new French expression, bouilloires thermiques, or ‘thermal kettles’, for buildings that trap and retain heat.

UK-France ‘one in, one out’ migration deal ends

The UK-France agreement allowing Britain to return some small-boat migrants to France in exchange for accepting asylum seekers through legal routes has ended.

The pilot scheme, which began in 2025, was designed to deter Channel crossings. Under the arrangement, some people arriving in the UK by small boat could be returned to France, while Britain accepted asylum seekers with family links to the country.

No new cases are now being processed under the scheme, although some returns will continue for people already detained.

Summer heat, drought and fires cost France €16bn

The extreme weather experienced across France this summer is estimated to have cost the country around €16 billion, according to a parliamentary mission examining the impact of heatwaves, drought and wildfires.

The investigation heard evidence from government departments, public agencies, economists, firefighters, farmers and insurers. It comes after a summer marked by repeated heatwaves, water shortages and major wildfires across several parts of the country.

The findings are likely to add to pressure for France to strengthen its preparations for increasingly extreme weather.