British ski instructor Simon Butler has been fined €30,000 for teaching at Megeve ski resort without qualifications acceptable to French authorities.
Prosecutors had called for a €10,000 fine and eight month jail sentence but Mr Butler will not go to jail unless he does not pay the fine.
Mr Butler was reported by the Daily Telegraph to have said he will go to jail rather than pay the fine, as he strongly believes the French position is contrary to EC law on employment equality across member states. He says he is appealing the decision.
The case relaters to Mr Butler’s refusal to take the ‘Eurotest’ a ski instructor qualification required in France since 2005 to be able to teach there. Mr Butler, who has taught in France for around 30 years, believes he does not need to take the test.
Around 350 Brits do teach in France and have passed the Eurotest.
The case is one of three being brought by French authorities against British people and organisations on similar grounds but in different areas of activity on the slopes. The other two are against tour operators for ‘hosting’ guests on French slopes, and against the ski club of great Britain for ‘guiding’ on French slopes.