the Ministry of the Economy wants to reduce by a quarter the surfaces occupied by the administration

In order to save money, Bercy wants to drastically reduce the real estate occupied by the administration. The Ministry of the Economy intends to reduce the surface area occupied by the State and public bodies by 25%, announced Sunday, November 19, the Minister for Public Accounts Thomas Cazenave in La Tribune Sundaywithout specifying a timetable. “I want to carry out an ambitious reform of state real estate”announced the minister in a joint interview with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire.

“It is a real lever for sobriety, particularly given new forms of work. The ratio of surface areas per public agent is today 24 square meters, much higher than that of the private sector. We would like to reduce it to 16 square meters . This can also involve property transfers.”detailed Thomas Cazenave.

First tracks expected for March

The newspaper recalls that the real estate assets of the State and public organizations include 192,000 buildings and 30,000 plots of land covering 94.5 million square meters, half of which are for National Education and the armies. This project is part of the public spending review launched by Matignon, supposed to contribute to generating 12 billion euros in savings in 2025.

“There will be no immunity. All ministers will be concerned”assured Thomas Cazenave. “There is no shortage of subjects: housing, clearer decentralization, public broadcasting, the maquis of social assistance and their payment methods…”, he continues. The results of the reviews should be known in early March.