French payout

The French government has said that it would be reimbursing €30 million in payroll costs to French ferry companies that have been affected by the coronavirus crisis and Brexit. Prime Minister Jean Castex said: “We have decided to reimburse all of Brittany Ferries’ payroll costs for the 2021 financial year. This represents a commitment of around €15 million”, adding that an equivalent amount would be offered to other ferry companies. Shipping firms have suffered from lower traffic to and from the UK because of quarantine measures and uncertainty surrounding the situation that will be in place at the end of 2020, when the transition period comes to an end.