Professional catering organizations had an appointment at the Ministry of the Economy on Tuesday to discuss a possible reopening of their establishments.

But the date of January 20 mentioned by Emmanuel Macron no longer seems relevant.

A decision is expected to be given on Thursday.

They have been counting the days since the end of October ... The restaurateurs were hoping for a reopening of their establishments on January 20, a date formerly mentioned by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, but this horizon faded Tuesday after the reception at the Ministry of Economy, in Paris, of the main professional organizations in this sector.

If the decision should normally be announced Thursday, "we forget the reopening on January 20," said Didier Chenet, president of the GNI (national group of independent hotel and catering) after the meeting.

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"Extremely strong support for our profession"

No prospect of reopening, therefore, for these professionals and the doubt remains as regards their claim on the February vacation.

Restaurant owners had been hoping to obtain a waiver in the green areas since the start of the epidemic, but the door is apparently completely closed.

"The government wants to do everything to avoid a new confinement", added Didier Chenet.

In addition to the GNI, the Umih, the main union in the hotel and catering industry, the GNC which brings together the hotel chains, the SNRTC (thematic and commercial catering) and the SNARR (food and fast food) were received by the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire and the Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Alain Griset.

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"I want to say it, it was an extremely marked support for our profession, telling us that the support measures that were taken in December would be maintained, even improved and I would say broadened. Because today, these provisions do not satisfy, of course, the groups ", explained Didier Chenet at the microphone of Europe 1." You have groups which today lose 300,000, 400,000, 500,000 euros, or even much more per month.

The repayment of bank loans mentioned

Clearly, hoteliers and restaurateurs hope in particular to see further broadened access to the Solidarity Fund, so that they can benefit more to establishments grouped into holding companies and extend short-time working "at least until June 2021".

This particularly concerns hotel groups and restaurant chains.

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Finally, the subject of bank loan repayments was discussed.

Minister Bruno Le Maire has undertaken to negotiate with the banks to obtain a two-year extension of deadlines for administratively closed sectors.