The 40th winter campaign of the Restos du Cœur, launched on 19 November 2024 in Gennevilliers, France, highlighted the vital role of European Union support in combating poverty and food insecurity. 

Thanks to funding from the European Social Fund Plus, the Restos du Coeur and other key organisations provide critical aid to millions in need, reflecting the EU’s strong commitment to solidarity and social inclusion. 

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier joined national and local leaders at the event, celebrating this milestone and reaffirming a collective resolve to fight poverty together.

The vital role of EU support

Since their creation in 1985 by Coluche, the Restos du Cœur have grown into a vital support network, distributing 63 million meals to over 1.3 million people last year.

Much of this impact has been made possible through strong collaboration with the European Union. From 2014 to 2020, the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) allocated over €600 million to France, supporting nearly one-third of the country’s total food aid. In 2022 alone, this funding enabled food aid for more than 5.6 million people in France.

Today, this critical support continues under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), with almost €650 million allocated for 2021-2027. This funding goes beyond food aid, helping beneficiaries to rebuild their lives with tailored measures like housing assistance, access to healthcare, and cultural inclusion. 

National and European networks of solidarity

The Restos du Cœur are part of a broader network of four major material aid organisations in France that benefit from EU funding. Alongside the Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires, Secours Populaire Français, and Croix-Rouge Française, they work to address food deprivation and material support needs across the country.

This national effort reflects a larger European framework. In 2022, FEAD funding across the EU provided food aid to 14.2 million people, facilitated the distribution of 32 million meals, and delivered essential items such as clothing and hygiene products to 800 000 people.

Solidarity at every level 

The event in Gennevilliers reinforced the collective determination to fight poverty, bringing together EU funding, volunteer efforts, and community action. The Restos du Cœur’s national call for solidarity, first issued in 2023, remains critical as demand for aid continues to rise.

As the 40th winter campaign progresses, the Restos du Cœur and their partners across France serve as a powerful example of European solidarity in action. Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s presence at the launch reaffirmed the centrality of EU support in building inclusive and resilient communities, ensuring no one is left behind.