Finance Minister Michel Sapin said Wednesday the idea wasn't to "forbid cash," but he said the system needs more traceability and that people need to be ready to change their habits in order to help prevent more terror attacks like the ones in January that left 20 people dead in Paris, including all three gunmen.
Non-residents namely tourists with a shopping spree in mind can spend up to 10,000 euros (USD 10,635) in cash. Sapin also called on the rest of Europe to follow France's lead, saying "terrorism cannot be fought in just one country.