French Universities Launch One-Euro Meal Initiative

Starting Monday, French universities began offering one-euro meals to all students, regardless of income, as part of a measure designed to address financial hardships. This initiative follows a push from the student union and aims to reduce the cost of meals from the usual 3.30 euros to just one euro for a three-course meal, which includes a starter, main course, and dessert.

Alexandr Ioannid, an 18-year-old student in Paris, noted that this measure will cut his monthly canteen expenses from 60 euros to 20 euros, allowing him to save money for dining out. A January survey by the student union revealed that 48 percent of students had gone without food for financial reasons, with 23 percent doing so several times a month.

The program is expected to benefit around 667,000 students, with a projected increase of 5.3 percent in meal servings compared to the previous year. Philippe Baptiste, the higher education minister, has pledged 120 million euros by 2027 to support the scheme, ensuring it does not lead to excessive workloads for canteen staff or a decline in food quality.