The representatives of the restaurateurs, who ask for help to pay their energy bills, will be received on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. by the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, and the Minister of SMEs, Olivia Grégoire, Bercy announced on Wednesday.
Bruno Le Maire had announced this meeting in the morning on France Inter, while warning restaurateurs that they should not expect the same help as bakers. They were able to renegotiate their electricity or gas bills without penalties.
“The situation is very different. I remind you of a key principle for the year 2023: aid will now go to those who need it most,” said the minister. “Bakers have increased the price of butter, flour, all raw materials, by 20, 30, 40% and electricity. They are the only ones in this case”, with the exception of some other professions such as “butchers, who are also in real difficulties”, explained Bruno Le Maire.
tariff shield
“We are also large consumers of energy, very impacted because the tariff shield does not apply (…) we have suffered the inflation of the wage bill and raw materials […] because the breeders [et] farmers tell us about their price problems,” he said.
The catering sector wants “a rate shield for all companies, without conditions”, claimed the RNB spokesperson, evoking “phenomenal anguish among professionals”.
Source: BFM TV
