At a meeting today with Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister for the Economy and Finance, the Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics (FNTP) expressed its indignation at the cancellation of the measure targeting GNR in the agricultural sector. Indeed, public works remains the only sector affected by the elimination of a tax advantage on diesel fuel. During his meeting with the federation, the Minister pledged to adopt financial compensation measures for VSEs/SMEs in the public works sector, to speed up implementation of the sector's demands in terms of professional biofuels, and to include compliance with payment deadlines as a key measure in the simplification bill soon to be debated in parliament.
"On the subject of GNR, I am continuing to keep up the pressure on the Government to make it aware of the cash-flow difficulties that public works companies are also experiencing. I am delighted that Bruno le Maire has recognized that respecting payment deadlines is a priority," declares Alain Grizaud, President of the FNTP.
According to the federation, "worsening payment times are the main source of cash flow difficulties currently encountered by companies". The French Minister of the Economy has declared himself very much in favor of setting up a traceability system for invoices as soon as they are issued, so that they can no longer be called into question. A system of sanctions extended to all paying agencies, as well as the intervention of the BPI to take over receivables, could also see the light of day very soon.
