Government Pledges €1 University Meals for All Students in Final 2026 Budget

Overview

• The prime minister’s office said the universal €1 Crous meal measure will be written into the final budget text.
• The move answers a Socialist Party demand championed by MP Fatiha Keloua-Hachi, which passed a first reading in January 2025.
• Parliamentary budget debates were suspended after the government said a vote was not possible, heightening pressure to strike a deal.
• Financing remains open, with Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin floating a surtax on large-company profits estimated at €6.3 billion alongside measures involving local authorities and the activity bonus.
• More than 500,000 students used €1 meals in 2023–2024 out of 2.965 million, the plan is estimated to cost about €90 million annually, and the UNEF called the pledge positive but wants to see a dedicated budget line.