Juridique et Administratif

📊 The Entreprises Générales de France (EGF) and the Observatoire de l’Immobilier Durable (OID) collaborated to interpret European taxonomy regulatory texts. They co-published three notices on operationalizing technical criteria for the "transition to a circular economy" goal. This goal is one of six in the European taxonomy, relevant to the building sector, encompassing waste reduction, sustainable materials use, and recycling principles in construction, renovation, and demolition (3.1, 3.2, 3.3). Updates will reflect regulatory changes and sector feedback, with an OID taxonomy committee meeting scheduled for June 5, 2025.

🏕 Le Territoire de Belfort entreprend la restauration du sentier panoramique du Ballon d’Alsace, visant la labellisation « Grand Site de France ». Créé dans les années 1990, le sentier a subi des dommages dus aux intempéries et à une fréquentation élevée. Les travaux de rénovation commenceront en 2024 avec le soutien d'un bureau d'études spécialisé, intégrant des méthodes respectueuses de l'environnement et du paysage classé.

💻 The European Commission addressed preliminary findings to Alphabet on March 19, 2025, for not complying with the Digital Markets Act regarding two services where it's designated as a gatekeeper. The Commission's preliminary view suggests that Google Search favors Alphabet services over competitors, violating fair and nondiscriminatory treatment required by the Act. Additionally, Google Play is alleged to restrict developers from directing consumers to better offers elsewhere, breaching the same regulation.

🛫 More than half of travelers (51.3%) worry about theft, loss, or damage to their luggage, while nearly 48.7% are concerned about health issues abroad. Additionally, 48.1% seek travel insurance with cancellation coverage, indicating a rising demand for protection against unexpected events. Ahead of summer 2025, Allianz Partners recommends ensuring adequate travel insurance to ensure a stress-free vacation.

📷 Adherents of GHR have been alerted to potential fraudulent use of copyrighted photographs, a practice known as "copyright trolling." In France, photographs are protected under copyright if original and reflect the photographer's personality. Legal precedent (CA Paris, 4th ch., May 24, 2000) states that the work must show the photographer's creative choices. Judges rule that if a culinary image is banal and doesn't reflect the photographer's personality, copyright infringement is not established. If contacted, GHR advises not to respond directly but to call them, not to acknowledge receipt, and to delete any disputed images to show good faith.

🛂 The UK mandates Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many international travelers to strengthen immigration control and generate revenue. Europeans, previously exempt, must comply starting 2 April 2025. ETA fees, initially at £10 (€12), will increase to £16 (€19) on 9 April 2025, aligning with border policies of countries like the USA and Australia.

💻 During a webinar on January 30, 2025, it was discussed that the French decree from September 26, 2024, which was to modify medical follow-up document templates, would take effect in October 2024. However, due to necessary IT developments, the enforcement was delayed, leading to the September 26 decree's repeal on November 5, 2024. The revised templates, including aptitude and inaptitude notices and follow-up attestations, were published on March 15, 2025, and are set to be enforced from July 1, 2025, to allow software providers time for necessary updates.

📦 Alphabet, parent company of Google, is accused by the European Commission of breaching the Digital Market Act (DMA) by preferentially highlighting its own services, including hotel and transport bookings, in Google Search results. If found guilty, Alphabet could face a fine of up to 10% of its global turnover, which was $350 billion in 2024. Alphabet is now given the opportunity to respond to these preliminary findings.

💰 Group Machefert, with 20 hotels in France and Morocco, sought judicial recovery in April 2024 to protect against creditor Fortress' pressure. CEO Kevin Machefert plans to clear the group's €100 million debt, mainly from Colony Capital, using a new financial partner and combining asset sales with refinancing for growth. The safeguard procedure began in 2022 as a preventive measure, allowing time to strategize an exit from this temporary situation.

🚫 On March 11, 2025, the French Cour de cassation ruled, through decisions no. 24-10.452 and no. 23-19.669, that an employee must demonstrate a distinct prejudice to claim damages for nullity of the "forfait jours" working arrangement. The two appeals involved claims for automatic compensation due to employer breaches regarding workload tracking, in violation of collective agreement provisions and legal stipulations (C. trav., art. L. 3121-60, L. 3121-64, L. 3121-65). Courts of Appeal acknowledged breaches but denied damages without specific harm evidence. A webinar will be held on March 20, 2025, by GHR's Department of Social Affairs, addressing autonomous executives' "forfait jours" in partnership with Klésia and Malakoff Humanis.