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ecent population census, a total of 4.7 million inhabitants were resident in these priority
areas; this corresponds to around 8 % of the entire French population.
Action framework for the Urban Renewal Laws passed in 2003
The Urban Renewal Laws which came into effect on 1 August 2003 define action
programmes for the ZUS which are subdivided into six thematic areas and are still included
in current city contracts for the encouragement of social cohesion:
− employment and economic development
− housing and urban environment
− health: prevention and access to medical care
− education: success in education
− public security and order
− mobilisation of public services
The laws specify targets for each of these action fields for a period of five years with
appropriate indicators with which the progress of these measures can be evaluated.
The “National Observation Authority for sensitive urban regions” (ONZUS) was also
created through the same legislation; this authority was assigned the task of measuring the
effects of policies through relevant statutory indicators. The ONZUS is affiliated to the
ministry responsible for urban policy and is obligated to submit an annual report.
Youth issues in the ZUS – a major challenge for urban politics
The history of urban politics in France is characterised by outbreaks of violence on the part
of youths from the “banlieues” [suburbs]: the series of incidents which began in Vaulx-en-
Velin in the suburbs of Lyon in 1981 up to those in November 2005 which took place in
numerous French cities (and not only in problematic districts) reflects the problematic
situation among these young people and highlights their integration difficulties within both
social and employment fields.
The following statistics on the distribution of young persons in the ZUS can be
explained by the strong presence of large families and families from non-European
countries: almost 32 % of the population in the ZUS is younger than 20 years of age
compared with the figure of less than 25 % for the whole of mainland France.
In schools situated within the ZUS, the proportion of pupils from disadvantaged milieus
is particularly high and their living conditions are not conducive to homework. Despite
supplementary funds specifically allocated to institutions in the ZUS for priority education
issues, numerous children and young persons encounter failure in their school career (late
commencement of secondary education and a low success rate in the final exams at the
“collèges“). The proportion of schoolchildren leaving school prematurely before
completing grammar school education or professional training is also high. Young people
from the ZUS display lower levels of ability at the end of basic school education than other
young people. Subsequent integration in employment is therefore also more difficult and
causes a particularly high unemployment rate, delayed admission to permanent and secure
employment and frequent longer-term joblessness. The better qualified amongst this group
are also just as frequently over-qualified for the positions to which they have access.
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