University canteens across France have begun offering one euro meals to all students, regardless of income, in a major policy shift aimed at tackling student financial hardship.
The initiative, rolled out on Monday, extends a subsidized meal program that was previously limited to students from low income backgrounds or those receiving financial aid. Under the scheme, students can now access a full three course meal including a starter, main dish, and dessert for just one euro, significantly lower than the standard 3.30 euro price.
The move follows sustained advocacy from student unions, who argued that rising living costs were forcing many students to skip meals. A recent survey highlighted the scale of the issue, revealing that nearly half of students in France had gone without food due to financial constraints, with a significant number doing so regularly.
For students like Alexandre Ioannides, the ce brings immediate relief. The Paris based student estimates that his monthly food expenses at the canteen will drop from around 60 euros to just 20 euros, freeing up money for other needs and activities.
The program is managed by Crous, which reported that hundreds of thousands of students already benefited from the discounted meals in 2024. With the expansion, authorities expect demand to rise sharply.
Philippe Baptiste has pledged government support for the initiative, announcing plans to allocate 120 million euros by 2027 to sustain the program. He described the reform as a meaningful transformation, while emphasizing the need to maintain food quality and manageable workloads for canteen staff.
The policy marks a significant step in addressing food insecurity among students and ensuring broader access to affordable nutrition across French universities.
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