Espace Voyageur enters "critical phase"

John Rimmer

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The French proposal to give airside retail a more solid legal grounding will be debated in the country's National Assembly next February

French trade organisation Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) is continuing its drive to ensure the Espace Voyageur concept, advocating the legal differentiation of airside retail from the domestic market, is enshrined in French legislation. AFCOV president Alain Falque said the process had entered a "critical phase" following its recent endorsement by the Senate. The concept will be debated by the French National Assembly in February.

"After six years of struggle, I have high hopes for Espace Voyageur," said Falque. "Every time the government changed we had to begin all over again, and some airports took time to understand that the concept related only to airside retail. The European Commission has understood Espace Voyageur and we have our fingers crossed that the National Assembly will also."