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France Rolls Out €1 University Meals for All Students

Unions question the budget’s ability to match a likely surge in demand.

Overview

  • France’s student dining network, which launched the €1 price for all on Monday, now serves a full entrée, main course, and dessert in Crous restaurants to any student regardless of income.
  • The government set aside €50 million for 2026 to cover meal subsidies, hire 200 staff, and upgrade equipment, with €120 million pledged for 2027.
  • UNEF warns the funds fall short and says students could face access limits and staff could be overworked if sites and hiring fail to keep pace.
  • Officials say they cannot yet size the increase in traffic, while Crous Paris projects 300,000 to 500,000 additional meals a year.
  • Early visits showed longer queues, and Crous plans to speed checkout by pushing Izly, a student payment app that runs faster than bank cards.