France: Government to Aid Businesses Hit by Gironde Wildfires

The French government is convening economic stakeholders on Thursday at the Ministry of Economy to address the severe impact of the devastating Gironde wildfires on local businesses. The fires have led to destroyed premises, employee displacement, and business closures due to evacuations, creating an unprecedented crisis for the region.

Several business organizations have urgently requested exceptional state aid and improved insurance coverage. Cécile Despons, president of the Gironde branch of Entrepreneurs, described the situation as "unprecedented" and "never seen before." The government has already initiated partial activity measures, allowing affected businesses to apply for support until August 28. Eligibility extends to businesses directly impacted by the fires, those in evacuated zones, or those whose operations are halted by the consequences of the fires, provided they can demonstrate a significant drop in activity compared to the previous year.

While partial activity support is in place, Mathias Saura, president of Medef Gironde, cautioned that it is not a perfect solution, as both employees and businesses face considerable income loss. Discussions are also underway for treasury support, with the Urssaf network offering payment deferrals for social contributions for up to twelve months. Independent workers can also access exceptional financial aid through the CPSTI. Additionally, businesses and individuals directly affected by the fires have an extended deadline of August 31 to file insurance claims.