In wake of riots EU offers France aid package
PARIS -- The European Union came to France's aid with an immediate offer of $58 million, with another $1.16 billion to come, in order to help France's cope with the social investments deemed necessary to tackle the anger of the boiling "banlieus."
The offer came from the EU Commission in Brussels as the French government met Monday to propose a new law that would extend the state of emergency and the power to impose curfews for three months, even though the pace of the riots seemed to be slackening after 18 successive nights of violence. Forty towns and cities are now under curfew. "The decision to resort to this somewhat exceptional procedure has allowed the conscience of public opinion to take hold, and has reminded parents of their obligations toward their children," said Jean-Francois Cope, the government's official spokesman.
The French government has already announced a package of social reforms designed to give career guidance and job placements to all the young unemployed below the age of 25 in the poorest suburbs. The government also plans tax breaks for companies who start branch offices or businesses in the poorest public housing districts where the bulk of two weeks of riots have taken place, with more than 8,000 vehicles torched and more than 3,000 arrests.
The government is also offering a $1,160 lump sum for jobless people who return to work, plus another $174 a month for a year. It has pledged to hire 5,000 extra teachers and teaching assistants and 10,000 scholarships to encourage those with high marks to stay in school, and will open 10 new boarding schools for those who want to leave their run-down housing estates to study.
With scattered incidents of rioting in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland, the EU is taking the view that the French riots, launched mainly by the teenage children of Arab and African immigrants is becoming a broader European problem. Brussels had its worst night over the weekend, with 42 vehicles torched.
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