The release of an envelope of 350,000 euros to compensate traders whose activity was affected by the summit of heads of state was announced Thursday by the Secretary of State for Economy and Finance.

Secretary of State for Economy and Finance Agnès Pannier-Runacher announced Thursday in Biarritz the release of an envelope of 350,000 euros to compensate traders whose activity was affected by the summit of heads of state ( August 24-26). "We want to salute the traders who are not public officials, but who played the game by remaining open during the four days of the summit.It is legitimate to compensate them," said Agnès Pannier-Runacher to the press, before the Bellevue Hotel, one of the places that hosted meetings of heads of state.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher said that the envelope, which should be paid before November 1, was "not closed, it is immediately available because the challenge is to go fast". Compensation, based on the gross margin, will be calculated over the four days when Biarritz was closed. They may also be extended to "other places that may have been blocked near Biarritz". The envelope corresponds "more or less to the money that could be paid to merchants during the work of Notre-Dame de Paris or during the experience of yellow vests," said Secretary of State.

No compensation for those who made their arrangements upstream

It will, however, be subject to conditions. "There is no ambiguity about the traders who have been opened, but there are also some who have opened and who have realized that they can not work." For those who made their arrangements upstream and who were closed, there will be no compensation, "she said.

The Secretary of State had previously toured some of the city's shops, including those located in the red zone, perimeter where security was maximum and where could only enter the accredited persons and residents.

"It was the worst week to make this summit"

Patrick Darrigade, manager of the House of the press just a step away from the municipal casino, assured to have "lost 28.000 euros over four days.With such a loss, at the end of the year, I am deficit", slipped the merchant whose shop was located in the red zone and had to close. "It was the worst week for this summit," said Joëlle Vachet, manager of a clothing store, while another shopkeeper, Philippe Mc Gary, opposite the Hôtel du Palais, said " lost 50% of our turnover ".

Agnès Pannier-Runacher also met with elected representatives and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The latter had previously insisted on the "necessity" of this measure of compensation, not only for the traders of Biarritz but for "all those of the Basque Country".