Forthcoming policy development

The policies currently being developed are designed to increase rates of youth community volunteering by developing programmes such as the civic service and the civic reserves.

A new civic engagement scheme for young people aged 16 and over

Since April 2026, the Directorate for Youth, Non-formal Education and Voluntary organisations (DJEPVA), attached to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Voluntary organisations, has been rolling out a new national initiative for young people aged 16 to 18, via the Civic Reserve and its platform JeVeuxAider.gouv.fr. 

Nearly 4,000 volunteering opportunities are now specifically open to minors. The scheme guarantees a safe environment for young people: parental consent, suitable reception conditions and educational support.

End of the Universal National Service (Service national Universel)

On 19 September 2025, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the end of Universal National Service (SNU) with effect from 1 January 2026.

Part of Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 presidential programme and launched in 2019, the SNU is a civic service programme for all young people aged 15 to 17, centred around a team-building camp and a period of service to the nation. According to the government, its aim was to “promote the concept of commitment and foster a sense of national unity”. From March 2024, the scheme had been partially integrated into the high school curriculum, in the form of a twelve-day training offered to voluntary students.

In this context, the creation of a National Voluntary Service (Service National) is being considered as a replacement for the SNU.

Ongoing debates

There are no ongoing debates at the moment.