On 12 December - in occasion of the dinner with university rectors - French President François Hollande announced the restoration of EUR 70 million that were supposed to be cut from the university budget. The cuts were due to the government’s amendment to the budget for 2015, approved by the National Assembly in November and that caused a number of public criticisms.

Hollande’s announcement aimed at soothing the tense situation in the academia and the public criticisms caused by the amendment , which would see spending on research and higher education slashed by EUR 136 million, including EUR 70 destined to French universities.

The Presidential announcement is a symbolic gesture to show that the French government wants to ensure a stable budget for HE and research for 2015. The decision followed the protest of thousands of researchers during a national day of action organised by the Conference of University Rectors on December 11.

Le Monde