François Bayrou in Montpellier: What is the objective of his visit to the heart of the Mosson region with seven other ministers this Friday?

The Interministerial Committee on Cities (CIV), chaired by François Bayrou, will take place this Friday, June 6, 2025, in Montpellier. This highly anticipated meeting focuses on the theme of « children in the city, » two years after the violent riots that affected certain working-class neighborhoods. Accompanied by seven other ministers, François Bayrou aims to announce concrete measures to strengthen education, health, and economic development, particularly in La Mosson, one of Montpellier’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.

A meeting under the theme of « children in the city »

Eagerly awaited by stakeholders in working-class neighborhoods, the Interministerial Committee on Cities (CIV) opens under the auspices of François Bayrou. The choice to focus this meeting on « Children in the City » reflects a simple ambition: to put the education and health of young people back at the center of public policy, to prevent both school dropouts and delinquency. Education and Health: Stated PrioritiesThe Minister Delegate for Urban Affairs, Juliette Méadel, emphasizes the need to « invest more resources in education and health, » because prevention requires investing in children’s future. Faced with neighborhoods where the poverty rate reaches 27%, it is crucial to provide opportunities to counter the growing influence of trafficking networks and other threats to young people. High-ranking participants In addition to François Bayrou and Juliette Méadel, seven ministers are expected in Montpellier: Elisabeth Borne (Education), François Rebsamen (Regional Planning), Yannick Neuder (Health), Valérie Létard (Housing), Amélie de Montchalin (Public Accounts), François-Noël Buffet (Interior), and Véronique Louwagie (Trade). This presence illustrates the importance attached to this event in a tense budgetary context.Concrete signs for residentsThe Mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, is fully committed to providing concrete signals to residents after the events of 2023. That morning, the Prime Minister will visit the disadvantaged Mosson neighborhood, inaugurating a new police station and inspecting a school designed to promote social diversity. These actions are part of a renewed commitment to coordinate ministerial efforts to rebuild these troubled neighborhoods. Ambitious Measures Despite Constraints

With the government targeting savings of €40 billion by 2026, the CIV’s promises may seem ambitious. However, François Bayrou is preparing to announce some forty measures covering three areas: support for children, improving the living environment, and economic development, with a particular emphasis on female entrepreneurship. These proposals aim to provide a sustainable response to the challenges faced by the 1,600 « priority neighborhoods of urban policy » in France. The city of Montpellier’s commitment to completely eradicate slums within the next decade, as well as its involvement in other sectors such as sports and culture, demonstrate its desire to create a better future for all its residents.