VIDEO. The future judicial city of Marseille will be rebuilt in the Euroméditerranée district

The long-awaited judicial city of Marseille, which must improve the services of a court currently lacking space, will be built in the Euroméditerranée district, near the port, in 2030.as soon as possible“, announced the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti on Monday.

“I announce to you that the judicial city of Marseille will be on the Euroméditerranée site“, declared the minister during a speech, considering that for him it was the “most optimal site”.

Urban requalification project on land close to the port, Euroméditerranée covers an area including other office towers and new housing.

The services of the third court in the country after Paris and Bobigny, with interregional skills in matters of organized crime, health, transport or environment, are currently spread over seven sites due to lack of space in the same place.

A situation whichseriously harms the quality of justice“, had again recalled at the beginning of the year the president of the judicial court Olivier Leurent who again called for the construction of a “worthy judicial city“and to exceed the”local and sterile disagreements” at the place of its establishment.

350 million euros

The judicial court, whose two main sites are currently in the heart of the city center, will therefore move a little further north from France’s second city, to the great dismay of lawyers, traders in the historic center and the left-wing municipality.

To listen to everyone’s grievances, the minister asked the prefect to lead a consultation which ended this summer.

Three main options were on the table: building a vast judicial city in the Euroméditerranée district, quite close to the center and which is in full development, doing the same thing on land in La Capelette, in the 10th arrondissement, in the east, or stay on the historic site by finding expansion solutions.

“Technically“, the latter option would have been “complicated and expensive“, explained Mr. Dupond-Moretti while taking “the firm resolution“not to leave the center of Marseille”devitalize“.

This future judicial city of 40,000 square meters, which will cost around 350 million euros according to the minister, should make it possible to regroup services by 2030.as soon as possible“, specified the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Dupond-Moretti made his first outing in Marseille since his trial – unprecedented for a Minister of Justice – before the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR). The decision to be rendered on November 29 will be crucial for his future in government.

He was on trial for “illegal taking of interest“The prosecution requested a one-year suspended prison sentence, his defense pleaded for acquittal.