France's budget minister Eric Woerth will host a press conference today to introduce the requirements for online gaming operators to obtain a French gaming license.

From PokerPages:

Sportsbetting has put the most pressure to prompt the change, but it is not clear at this time whether online poker will be addressed.

The announcement marks successful dialogue and efforts by the European Commission to bring France's gaming law into compliance under European law, namely to permit EU-based gaming operators to operate anywhere within EU boundaries.

Though the draft legislation itself is not expected to be revealed today, it will be submitted for approval to French lawmakers sometime this summer. If approved, the licensing process could begin, and residents of France could legally gambling online as of January 1st 2010.