Long queues as France’s €1 student meals draw crowds
Video. France’s new €1 university meal scheme has attracted large numbers of students, with long queues reported at canteens in Paris. While some students welcome the cheaper meals, staff warn that the extra demand is putting pressure on space, equipment and staffing.
Updated: 24/09/2026 - 16:48 GMT+2
France’s new €1 university meal scheme is drawing large crowds at canteens in Paris, with students queuing for meals and staff struggling to cope with the extra demand.
At the Crous Mabillon restaurant, a storekeeper says staff went on strike over a lack of equipment and personnel, warning the service could reach breaking point.
Students, meanwhile, have mixed experiences: some praise the measure as valuable financial support, while others say longer queues are making it harder to eat between classes.
