In the UK, it's a different ball game. A BBC story from 2004, "Clearing snow 'can get you sued'": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3453039.stm

However, in recent months the government has noted that this was all a bit silly and now suggests that you won't get into trouble if you do the job properly. Still, a lot of FUD about this whole topic so people tend to just not bother.

South European here (thus I have no idea what it's like to deal with ice)! So what happens if you go on holidays for a couple of days?

That's your problem, should have planned better.

I don't get it. Are you the owner of the sidewalk?

No, but just like you have to pay property taxes, you have to keep the sidewalk adjacent to your lot free of ice and snow.

I guess it would never work like that around here...

Also true of Green Bay, WI. (It may be a state instead of a local ordnance. I'm not sure.)

Same in France.