Emmanuel Macron brings together representatives of nightclubs on the reopening on Monday

Emmanuel Macron brings together representatives of nightclubs and the nightclub at the Elysee Palace on Monday morning to take stock of the reopening and support for the sector, particularly affected by the health crisis, announced the Elysee on Sunday.

This meeting, scheduled for 10:00 am, Music Day, will be held with the Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot and the Minister Delegate Alain Griset, in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises.

At the end of this meeting, they could announce the reopening date, which professionals expect as soon as possible, if possible June 30, after 15 months in complete shutdown.

Read also: For night bars, the lifting of the curfew sounds the death knell for the long months of closure

Discussions focus on the health protocol to be applied in establishments, where barrier measures are difficult to adopt.

“Does this require an exceptional health pass - that is to say that it would be required for less than 1,000 people, it is a possibility and I think that it is quite logical to do it - ?

Are there any ventilation systems required (...), that's all that we are in the process of fine-tuning, ”Health Minister Olivier Véran explained on Thursday.

Health pass at the entrance?

The two main professional unions in the sector, Umih and GNI, have agreed that the health pass is required at entry, while also asking for the possibility that customers can enter after having completed a self-test on site.

According to professionals, the protocol should also include obligations regarding ventilation and wearing a mask.

The nightclubs represent 30,000 direct jobs and a billion euros in annual turnover, according to the unions.

Out of 1,600 nightclubs in France, 152 had closed permanently at the end of March 2021, according to them and 25% will not be able to open due to the impossibility of meeting the health protocol, in particular because of the ventilation systems.

Read also: Mask, health pass ... What professionals offer for the reopening of nightclubs

On Monday evening, a concert will also be held in the main courtyard of the Elysée Palace on the occasion of the 40th edition of the Fête de la Musique, notably with Jean-Michel Jarre and Marc Cerrone.

In accordance with current health protocols, the public will be able to attend the concert in a seated configuration, while respecting the distances and the 65% gauge, the Elysee said.

The event will be broadcast live on CultureBox.