Ben McPartland

Paris

Managing Editor at The Local (Europe)

Managing Editor at The Local (Spain)

Managing Editor at The Local (Norway)

Editor of The Local Europe news sites (https://t.co/DevfCMSluT) Based in Paris. Views are rarely my own. Email: ben.mcpartland@ https://t.co/DevfCMSluT

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Articles

Job advert: The Local France is looking for a freelance journalist

8 hours ago | thelocal.fr | Ben McPartland

Our job at The Local is to explain French news and the complexities of life in France to readers. Our members and readers are mostly foreign nationals living in the country, second home owners or people living all around the world who happen to have a particular interest in France. They may be regular visitors or plan on moving to the country one day.
'Retiring here is unaffordable': Why foreign residents leave Switzerland

1 week ago | thelocal.ch | Ben McPartland

The number of foreigners who leave Switzerland after having lived here for a period of time is also quite high in comparison with other European nations, according to Eurostat migration statistics. Between 2013 and 2022, for instance, an average of 155,000 people immigrated to Switzerland each year. During the same period, about 90,000 foreign nationals left the country.
Tell us: What's the most painful part of Swiss bureaucracy?

1 week ago | thelocal.ch | Ben McPartland

Swiss bureaucracy can be notoriously painful for Swiss nationals, let alone foreign residents. So we want to hear about the most troublesome bureaucratic procedures in Switzerland. Is it taxes, driving licences, or renewing residency permits? What do you think really needs to improve? Please take a minute or two to share your experiences and tips with fellow readers. We'll publish the most useful responses in a future article. If the questionnaire does not appear below, please click here.
Tell us: What's the most painful part of Austrian bureaucracy?

4 weeks ago | thelocal.at | Ben McPartland

Austrian bureaucracy can be notoriously painful for Austrians, let alone foreign residents. So we want to hear about the most troublesome bureaucratic procedures in Austria. Is it taxes, driving licences, or renewing residency permits? What do you think really needs to improve? Please take a minute or two to share your experiences and tips with fellow readers. We'll publish the most useful responses in a future article. If the questionnaire does not appear below, please click here.
Tell us: What's the most painful part of German bureaucracy?

1 month ago | thelocal.de | Ben McPartland

German bureaucracy is notoriously painful and an attempt to make life easier for residents by getting as many procedures online as possible has not paid off. Indeed a new report has said the idea of a "digital Germany" is just a "distant prospect". So we want to hear about the most troublesome bureaucratic procedures in Germany. Is it taxes or driving licences or renewing residency permits? What do you think really needs to improve?
TELL US: Are you affected by Italy's new citizenship by descent law?

1 month ago | thelocal.it | Ben McPartland

The Italian government has recently tightened the rules for claiming Italian citizenship by descent in a dramatic move that's been described as an "act of war" against descendants of Italians abroad.
When will Europe roll out its ETIAS visa waiver for non-EU travellers?

1 month ago | thelocal.com | Ben McPartland

As a reminder, the EU is planning big changes for travel in the near future with its biometric entry/exit system known as EES and its own visa-waiver known as ETIAS. Both were meant to be in place long before now - and long before the UK rolled out its own travel authorisation scheme - but have been hit by a series of delays after governments and travel companies raised repeated concerns about the impending border chaos they would provoke.
MAP: How the spread of coronavirus has hit countries across Europe

1 month ago | thelocal.com | Ben McPartland

Scroll down to see more maps of how the corona virus have hit different parts of Europe. This interactive map shows the outlook across Europe. As the map shows, Italy is by far the hardest hit among European countries.
Swiss payment app Twint announces new features

2 months ago | thelocal.ch | Ben McPartland

The Twint app, which was first introduced in Switzerland in 2014, has become hugely popular in the country with around 5 million users It is now accepted by 80 percent of retailers and supermarkets in Switzerland. In a recent statement Twint announced a series of upgrades aimed at making it simpler for customers but also for business owners. One of the new features will allow businesses to offer customers an “Express checkout” to customers when they shop online.
Tell us: Have you recently moved from the US to France?

2 months ago | thelocal.fr | Ben McPartland

Internet search engines were, in recent months, bombarded with requests such as "how can I move from the US to France?" For some moving to France might be a life long ambition whilst others may have more specific reasons such as the political situation in the US. But wanting to move across the Atlantic and successfully doing so is not the same thing. If you're one of those who have left the US recently and started a new life in France please take part in our quick survey.