the government’s options for saving 10 billion euros

The envelopes of several schemes have been reduced, several projects will be postponed and the government intends to make savings on the operating expenses of all ministries.

Ten billion euros less. Faced with growth for the year 2024 revised downwards from 1.4% to 1%, Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of Economy and Finance, announced on Sunday a vast savings plan in order to maintain the deficit of France at 4.4%. “All ministries will contribute up to what they represent in the national budget”specified the tenant of Bercy.

VSThe 10 billion savings will be distributed as follows: five billion on the operating expenses of all ministries, one billion on public development aid, one billion euros on MaPrimeRenov’ or even one “contribution” state operators.

“The decree to cancel these 10 billion savings will be taken this week to leave no ambiguity about our determination to control public finances”warned the minister Monday morning. Franceinfo summarizes how Bruno Le Maire intends to go about it.

A form of sobriety in ministries

How to recover five billion from the ministries’ budgets? Concretely, thehe Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts, Thomas Cazenave, announced 700 million euros in savings on the State payroll, in particular by postponing certain recruitments.

The delegate minister also wants to reduce the ministries’ purchasing bill by 750 million euros. How ? “Buy better and buy less”, summarized Thomas Cazenave. Bercy also defends a form of sobriety, with 20% fewer trips for state agents, for the benefit in particular of “the video”.

Savings will also affect real estate, with a 25% reduction in office space occupied by the State.

Public policies revised downwards

Certain public policies are seeing their envelope cut. This is the case of MaPrimeRenov’, whose budget was to increase from 2.4 to 4 billion euros for 2024, but which should ultimately cap at three billion. Bercy also intends to revise the coverage of the costs of apprenticeship contracts, to save 200 million euros, and revise downwards the “skills” plan, to recover 150 million euros.

The government also intends to make 200 million euros in savings thanks to the implementation “from this year” ofa flat-rate contribution from employees to benefit from the personal training account (CPF). The establishment of a remainder was already planned by the 2023 finance law, but was never implemented. From now on, Bercy wants beneficiaries to finance “at least 10% of the cost of training”with the exception of job seekers.

The entourage of Catherine Vautrin, the Minister of Labor, however assures franceinfo that “the modalities have not yet been completely arbitrated at this stage”. A meeting is planned on the subject this week. The minister also wishes “exchange with social partners”.

Some projects postponed after 2024

Finally, certain projects will be postponed beyond 2024 to reduce finances for the current year. Without specifying which ones, Thomas Cazenave announced the postponement of “international projects” dpublic development aid, to save 800 million euros.

Furthermore, the increase in the green fund envelope, initially set at 500 million euros, will ultimately be limited to 100 million. This reduction in the budget allocated to this system which helps local authorities fight against climate change will inevitably result in the postponement of several projects.