Ultimately, all young people aged 15 to 17 should be able to participate: the universal national service (UNS), implemented from 2019, should allow young people to undertake a “cohesion stay”, bringing together students of all origins and all regions, around the values of citizenship and commitment, before carrying out a mission of general interest – often within a uniformed body or an association.
Five years later, the Court of Auditors points out “the absence of a clear horizon” AND “insufficient planning of the necessary means for its implementation”. Management problems, both at the central and local levels, have led to additional costs and an overload of work for the actors, which is a cause for concern for the Court of Auditors in the context of an increase in the workload still planned, up to “generalisation”: The law on the programming of public finances 2023-2027 provides for the financing of the UNS for 150,000 young people in 2027, while Emmanuel Macron has declared his wish to generalise the UNS from 2026.
The first problem of the UNS is the lack of clarity of its objectives, which have “multiplied throughout its implementation”. In addition, the creation of the UN system was carried out “with almost constant legislation” : The project was never debated in Parliament, “neither in its principles nor in its modalities”. Given the lack of clarity in the system, young people have turned up each year in smaller numbers than expected. In 2023, there were around 40,000 in cohesion stays of twelve days, out of the 64,000 planned. On the other hand, according to a study carried out by the National Institute of Youth and Popular Education (Injep), the satisfaction of the young participants is very high (96% in 2023).
Underutilized credits
The device also suffers from tracking issues, “although it is a priority government policy”The Court of Auditors recalls that its political oversight has evolved over time, as the SNU was first supported by a State Secretariat for Youth attached to the Ministry of National Education, then by a State Secretariat for Youth and the SNU under the dual supervision of national education and the army.
On the ground, the government did not want management with popular education associations, so the project had to remain “Regalian”. But he came across the “limit” the capacities of decentralized state services. “Associations, particularly those of popular education, have been essential relays”The Court of Auditors recalls, insisting on its “Growing mobilization against the UN”that, in return, “raises the question of its ability to continue its other missions”. Training and the number of supervisors could also become a real concern in the context of a generalisation, since welcoming more reluctant young people could lead to more disciplinary situations, warns the financial jurisdiction.
You have 46.47% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
