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As staff at the Eiffel Tower continue to strike over the monument's management, France’s culture minister has suggested classifying the iconic building as a national monument, which would allow the state to help fund necessary works
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 23 Feb 2024
The Eiffel Tower has remained closed due to ongoing strikes Credit: AFP
With strikes at the Eiffel Tower entering their fifth day, France's culture minister Rachida Dati has suggested classifying the structure as a “historical monument” in order to allow the state to help fund necessary works.
Unions have criticised the tower’s operator, SETE, for a business model based on inflated estimates of future visitor numbers. The model, say the strikers, also underestimates repair and maintenance costs for the iconic monument.
The unions have also complained about Paris’s City Hall, which is charging the Eiffel Tower’s operator a leasing fee they say is too high and is taking funding away from essential services and maintenance work.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Dati suggested the reclassification of the tower could help it moving forward.
"Today the Eiffel Tower does not have sufficient protection,” she said. For this it is necessary to initiate a classification procedure. This would allow it to benefit from scientific and technical control from the state and, if necessary, to undertake work automatically.”
Dati also posted: “I do not understand what is stopping the mayor of Paris from initiating this approach with the Ministry of Culture because it’s up to her to do it. I am ready to receive this request in order to initiate the classification procedure as quickly as possible.”
Dati added that she had previously warned about management difficulties, visitor dissatisfaction and unrealistic financial projections, saying: “These failures in the management of SETE are the cause of potential lead poisoning, additional expenses, unanticipated closures and increased visitor dissatisfaction.
“It’s urgent that Paris City Hall takes its responsibilities and ensures responsible management prioritising the interests of the Eiffel Tower and its visitors”.
Heritage
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