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Presentation France
Philippe Choffell, Head of Department
Observation and Planning
Yves Goepfert, Head of Programme
“Réussite éducative”
Frédéric Bourthoumieu, GIP Centre
Essone, Réussite Educative de
Courcouronnes
“Réussite educative à la DIV” –
Educational programme for
young people in problematic urban districts
Introduction of programme “Réussite éducative”
P. Choffell Y. Goepfert F. Bourthoumieu
Urban policy is a partnership policy which was created in France around twenty years ago
to improve the integration of problematic city districts within urban development. Within
the framework of this policy, urban projects and also economic, cultural and social
measures have been developed for priority areas which have been classified as such on the
basis of contracts between the state and corporate bodies. These contracts, previously
termed “contrats de ville” [city contracts], expired on 31 December 2006 and were replaced in
January 2007 by the so-called “Urban Contracts for Social Cohesion” (CUCS) which are
staggered to run up to 2012. These three-year contracts are renewable and are drawn up by
the state and the relevant mayor in cooperation with other associative bodies
Urban policy is currently based on a framework and on opportunities for action which
were renewed by the Urban Renewal Laws dated 1 August 2003 and complemented by
laws governing the programming of the support for social cohesion dated 18 January 2005,
the equal opportunity laws dated 31 March 2006 and the laws concerning the national
commitment for housing construction dated 13 July 2006.
The Prioritised Geography of Urban Policy
The so-called “Pact for Urban Renewal”, laws dating from 1996, stipulates a series of
priority areas – the so-called “sensitive urban regions” (ZUS). This list continues to be
utilised, although further areas have been named either in city contracts or in the CUCS
which have extended and updated the geographical list specifically through the addition of
areas in which prevention measures are necessary to avoid a deterioration of local
conditions.
The Pact for Urban Renewal defines 751 ZUS regions which are categorised within
three priority levels according to the relevant social and urban problems. 416 zones listed in
the Urban Revitalisation Zones (ZRU) have been categorised as medium priority. 44 socalled
Urban Tax-free Zones (ZFU) have been designated as high-priority zones in which
the establishment of companies and employment is to be supported through exemption
from taxes and social contributions. Subsequently, the total of ZFU increased in 2004 and
also 2007, reaching a total of 100.
ZUS, ZRU and ZFU can be found in both in mainland France and its overseas
departments (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana and Réunion). According to the most
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