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France Launches Fuel-Relief Loans for Small Firms After Price Surge

The government says it will cancel other spending to pay for the targeted aid.

Overview

  • David Amiel said Sunday the state will offset every euro of targeted fuel aid with spending cuts made through credit cancellations this year.
  • The new Prêt Flash Carburant, announced Friday, offers €5,000 to €50,000 per firm at 3.8% over 36 months with a 12‑month capital grace period and funds released within seven days.
  • Eligibility is limited to small transport, farming and fishing firms whose fuel costs are at least 5% of turnover, with over one year in business and bank statement access for Bpifrance.
  • Separate April measures include a 20‑cent‑per‑liter rebate for eligible road haulers (€50 million), a 20‑cent refund for fishing fuel (€5 million), and a temporary excise exemption on farm diesel (€14 million).
  • Unions call the loan plan unfair because it adds debt, fishermen in the Mediterranean plan an indefinite strike from Tuesday, and shortages deepened Saturday with 16% of stations out of diesel, 28% out of SP98 and 70% out of SP95, as five EU states pressed Brussels for a coordinated windfall‑profits levy and France sought an EU probe into refinery margins.