Intermarché boss sticks to call to suspend French energy-savings certificates, but admits risks

Thierry Cotillard, the head of French supermarket group Intermarché, used an appearance at the POLITICO Playbook Paris Live summit in Paris to reaffirm his call for a suspension of France's energy savings certificates scheme, known as CEE.

What Cotillard said

Cotillard acknowledged that suspending the CEE system would create a practical problem: once halted, it would be difficult for any French government to restart it. Despite this admission, he maintained his position that the scheme should be paused.

Background

The CEE mechanism requires energy suppliers in France to help finance energy efficiency measures, with the associated costs often passed on to consumers, including through fuel and other product prices. The scheme has repeatedly drawn criticism from business and retail groups, who argue it adds to costs at a time when households and companies are already under financial pressure.

Cotillard's comments suggest he is aware that suspending CEE is not a simple or easily reversible step, even as he continues to push for the measure. His remarks were made during a panel discussion at the Paris summit organized by POLITICO.