September 2026 has brought its share of concrete changes in France, including new regulatory obligations, the deployment of artificial intelligence in public services, and debates that are energizing the presidential campaign. Rather than skimming over each headline of the day, this article focuses on the developments that directly alter the daily lives of businesses, public agents, and citizens.
Mandatory electronic invoicing: what has changed since September 2026
Have you received an email from your accountant about a new invoice format? This topic is not trivial. Since September 1, 2026, large companies and mid-sized enterprises must issue their invoices in electronic format. All businesses, regardless of their size, must now be able to receive these dematerialized invoices.
For SMEs and microenterprises, the obligation to issue invoices is postponed to September 1, 2027. This additional time allows for the adoption of compatible software or to use a partner dematerialization platform.
In practical terms, this means that if you work with a large client, you are already receiving invoices in the new format. It is better to check now that your management tool reads them correctly, rather than discovering a blockage during the next bank reconciliation. To follow news on Foxoo, this type of regulatory change is among the topics regularly updated.
The deployment schedule occurs in two waves, which avoids a sudden shift. The first wave (September 2026) concerns issuance by large structures and receipt by all. The second wave (September 2027) will generalize issuance to the entire economic fabric.
Artificial intelligence in administration: from announcements to real use cases
After months of communication about the potential of AI, the French state is moving to a more operational phase. An assistant developed with Mistral was rolled out in June 2026 to two million public agents. Since the start of the school year, a new agreement aims to deploy concrete applications in several ministries.
What does this change in daily life? An agent handling administrative files can now use this assistant to summarize long documents, draft standard letters, or check the consistency of a file. AI is moving from the experimental stage to a daily work tool for part of the public service.
This massive deployment raises practical questions:
- The training of agents remains uneven across ministries, with some having benefited from dedicated sessions while others are discovering the tool on their own.
- The confidentiality of data processed by the assistant is subject to strict frameworks, but their practical application varies from one service to another.
- Integration with existing business software (file management, internal messaging) is not always smooth, which hinders adoption.
The choice of Mistral, a French company, is not insignificant in a context where digital sovereignty is a presidential campaign argument. Several candidates have taken a stand on the topic of AI in recent weeks, making it both a political and technological theme.
Eco-responsible digital: France structures its commitments
The environmental footprint of digital technology goes beyond just the electricity consumption of data centers. The High Committee for Eco-responsible Digital has allowed for concrete milestones to be set, including a charter of best practices for refurbished devices sold on marketplaces.
This charter aims to regulate what has until now been a market with heterogeneous practices. A refurbished phone purchased on a large platform did not guarantee the same level of quality control as another. With this framework, sellers commit to verifiable criteria: battery condition, functional tests, transparency about the device’s origin.
For a buyer, this means better clarity at the time of choice. Refurbished devices already represent a significant share of smartphone sales in France, and this structuring should accelerate consumer confidence among those still hesitant.
Economic security and foreign investments: the balance sought by Bercy
Bercy is working to strengthen French economic security while maintaining attractiveness for foreign investors. This dual objective may seem contradictory, but it reflects a reality: certain strategic sectors require enhanced control over equity stakes.
The sectors concerned relate to defense, cutting-edge technologies, and critical infrastructure. The mechanism for screening foreign investments has existed for several years, but recent announcements suggest a targeted tightening rather than a general lockout.
For French companies seeking international partners or funding, the distinction is clear:
- Non-strategic sectors maintain an open and attractive framework for foreign capital.
- Sensitive sectors (semiconductors, cybersecurity, energy) are subject to increased scrutiny with potentially longer review times.
- Innovative SMEs in these areas must anticipate a more thorough examination if they consider raising funds from investors outside the European Union.
The challenge is to not discourage productive investment while protecting national technological assets. A balancing act that is played out case by case.
The start of the 2026 school year thus marks a discreet but tangible turning point on several fronts: the dematerialization of commercial exchanges, the digital tooling of public agents, the regulation of the refurbished market, and the screening of sensitive investments. These changes may not make headlines, but they are reshaping the rules of the game for the months to come.
