Juppe to spend pounds 2bn reviving inner cities
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MARY DEJEVSKY
Paris
The French Prime Minister, Alain Juppe, yesterday put forward a plan intended to boost deprived urban areas.
Mr Juppe announced a development programme for 700 deprived urban areas across France, and a subsidy of 15bn francs (pounds 2bn) to help to fund it, making it one of the largest state projects ever.
The programme, which had been promised by Jacques Chirac during his campaign for the presidency last year, was given special priority after a rash of rioting and unrest in the suburbs of French cities over the summer.
The measures include the establishment of 20 enterprise zones, which will be exempt from local and business taxes for five years; the provision of 4,000 extra police; new units for repeat juvenile offenders; and the creation of 100,000 jobs over four years - to be funded in part by the state and restricted to those between the ages of 18 and 25. One in four under-25s in France is unemployed, and the proportion on many housing estates is much higher.
In line with Mr Chirac's New Year pledge to make government ministers more accessible and more visible in the provinces, Mr Juppe chose to introduce his plan in the southern port city of Marseilles against the a backdrop of some of the worst slums in France.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments