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Panoramic view of the Vieux-Port in Marseille, with rows of moored boats, quayside buildings and Notre-Dame de la Garde on the hill

France

Marseille

Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Marseille is renovating its primary schools with €425 million in EIB loans, preparing a €94.2 million climate-neutrality investment programme and extending the Euroméditerranée regeneration northwards.

Updated · Checked against official sources

  • Population

    886,040

    2023

  • Mayor

    Benoît Payan

    current term began in March 2026

  • EU programmes

    5

Latest

  1. Regeneration and housing ·

    Euroméditerranée appoints UAPS as urban adviser for its next six years in Marseille

    The state development agency has hired a multidisciplinary team led by UAPS to steer the next phase of Marseille's largest regeneration operation.

    Facts and source
    • EPA Euroméditerranée has given the UAPS group an urban adviser mission for the next six years.
    • The mission follows the 2025-2040 framework protocol for the project.
    • Targets for 2040 include 10,000 additional homes and 250,000 m² of offices.

    Source: EPA Euroméditerranée, “Euroméditerranée poursuit son projet urbain avec UAPS en mission d'urbaniste conseil”

  2. Talent and innovation ·

    First stone laid for Théodora, a 35,000 m² training and AI campus in northern Marseille

    Construction has begun on the Théodora campus opposite the Gèze transport hub, part of a wider effort to turn the area into a new urban centre.

    Facts and source
    • Théodora will be a 35,000 m² campus for training, digital skills, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.
    • The site lies outside the perimeter of the Euroméditerranée national-interest operation.
    • The former Cap Pinède-Capitaine Gèze expressway nearby is to become a tree-lined urban boulevard.

    Source: EPA Euroméditerranée, “Théodora : une première pierre pour une nouvelle centralité autour de Gèze”

  3. Inclusion ·

    Marseille sets out support for its 60,000 students, including 600 new residence places

    At the start of the academic year, the City of Marseille listed its measures on student housing, food, mental health and access to rights.

    Facts and source
    • Marseille has more than 60,000 students, according to the City.
    • The City is co-financing new university residences at Saint-Charles and Château-Gombert that will add 600 places.
    • With the Crous, the City funds more than 500 free psychological consultations for students every year.

    Source: Ville de Marseille, “Rentrée étudiante : Marseille accompagne plus de 60 000 étudiants”

  4. Inclusion ·

    Marseille opens 2026 call for projects against gender inequality in sport

    The City of Marseille is funding a new round of projects that open sports spaces and activities to women, girls and gender minorities.

    Facts and source
    • The City supported 18 projects under the scheme in 2025.
    • Applications for the 2026 call were open from 18 June to 27 July 2026.

    Source: Ville de Marseille, “La Ville de Marseille lutte contre les inégalités de genre dans le sport grâce à un appel à projet engagé”

  5. Civic participation ·

    Marseille records 12,444 observations in the 2026 City Nature Challenge

    Residents logged 12,444 biodiversity observations in four days, lifting Marseille into the global top 100 and to first place in mainland France.

    Facts and source
    • Marseille recorded 12,444 observations, well above its target of 10,000.
    • The city ranked 52nd of 754 participating territories, entering the global top 100 for the first time.
    • Two goby species were observed for the first time in Marseille's waters.

    Source: Ville de Marseille, “Des résultats records pour le City Nature Challenge 2026 à Marseille”

City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is checked against the source text before an editor approves it.

Projects we track

5 projects · 2 under way

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Marseille primary schools plan (Plan Écoles)

    Construction, rebuilding, extension and renovation of pre-primary and primary schools, carried out by the City and the public company SPEM, covering more than 129,000 m² and improving energy efficiency. EIB loans were signed on 28 July 2025.

    Budget EUR 425 million EIB finance; total cost about EUR 877 million Funded by European Investment Bank Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Mission Marseille 2030 - Objectif Climat

    City-wide climate-neutrality programme combining renovation of schools and municipal buildings, local solar power and two new district heating and cooling networks; EIB Advisory is helping prepare it (February 2026).

    Budget €94.2 million Funded by InvestEU ELENA (EIB Advisory) Climate and energy

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Aygalades stream park

    A 16-hectare park in northern Marseille built around the renaturalised Aygalades stream, designed to reduce flood risk and add biodiversity; delivery is planned for 2032.

    Budget €64 million excl. VAT (works) Climate and energy

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Euroméditerranée, second phase

    Under a 2025-2040 framework protocol, the state development agency is finishing the first phase and developing the second around the future Aygalades park, with 10,000 more homes and 250,000 m² of offices by 2040.

    Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Théodora campus at Gèze

    A 35,000 m² campus for training, digital skills, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship opposite the Gèze transport hub; the first stone was laid in autumn 2026.

    Talent and innovation

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

EU programmes and networks

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