France Extends State of Emergency Due to European Football Championship

France plans to extend the state of emergency, introduced after the terrorist attacks on Paris in November 2015, for another two months to ensure security at the European Football Championship, said French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, reports the Patria news agency.

"Before such a major event, which on one hand must be held in safe conditions but at the same time be a celebration, we must guarantee security," he said on France Info radio station.

"The state of emergency cannot last forever, but because of such a major event we have decided to extend it."

The current state of emergency, under which the police and security forces have increased powers, ends on 26 May. With this measure, the state of emergency should be extended until 26 July. The one-month Euro 2016 in France begins on 10 June, and around 2.5 million spectators are expected at the 51 matches.

Valls said that Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve will propose the measure to other ministers later in the day, after which the extension of the state of emergency must still be voted on in parliament, writes Index.