Well, I can shed some light on a couple of the restrictions:
95/96/101/102 were all to do with the BIG French danger area CBA1, south of G/UG1. When it is ACTIVE and Restricted, G1/UG1 suddenly shrinks to 5 miles wide to provide an (optomistic sometimes) buffer between the French Mil and Civil Traffic en-route KONAN-KOKSY. Since we require a minimum spacing of 5nm for parallel headings, and the aim is to stay 2 miles from the edge of the airway, all the poor controller is left with is good old procedural vertical separation. This means lots of R/T, lots of stepped climbs and lots of frustration all round.
As for the staff shortages. Offical word still says we don't have a staff shortage. NATS management seem to have some sort of aversion to admitting this, perhaps due the fact they told Gwyneth Dunwoody a while ago there was "no problem" and one of them is going to have to go back in front of the Formidable One and tell the truth. Not gonna be pleasant is it? Maybe they though they were off the rack when she nearly departed, but guess what? She's BACK! Arnie, eat your heart out
Oh, when is the non-staff shortage going to ease? Not soon.
Rgds BEX